Pro-abortion money stirring up local races

Texans for Life has sent out an alarm over the large amounts of pro-abortion (Annie's List, Planned Parenthood) money pouring into Statehouse races, especially here in central Texas, including NARAL-supported Diane Maldonado for HD-52 against pro-life Bryan Daniel and NARAL-supported Valinda Bolton against Donna Keel:

Who are Abortion Advocates Pulling Out All the Stops For & Why?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wendy Davis: big winner with over $100,000 in cash and inkind gifts
Fort Worth's Wendy Davis has received over $100,000 from Annie's List, and Planned Parenthood has sent mailings for her and is phoning on her behalf. Her opponent is incumbent Sen. Kim Brimer, who has a 100% pro-life voting record. According to Annie's List, "This race is of tremendous strategic importance because Democrats now hold 11 out of the 31 Texas Senate seats. Because Senate rules require a 2/3rd vote to consider legislation, Wendy's victory would mean that Democrats could block destructive Republican legislation! We must win this seat to defend against the Republicans' extremist agenda in 2009 and the inevitable redistricting battle in 2011."

Diana Maldonado in 2nd Place with over $50,000
Williamson County's Diana Maldonado has benefited from over $50,000 in gifts from Annie's List, and is also endorsed by NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League), Texas Freedom Network (founded to combat the Religious Right) and Planned Parenthood, even as she touts her volunteer work at St. Williams Catholic Church. Her opponent in the race for HD 52, Bryan Daniel, is endorsed by several pro-life groups.

Kristi Thibaut Scores over $40K in cash & inkind gifts
Thibaut has received over $30,000 in cash and inkind gifts from Annie's List, and also lists Planned Parenthood and Texas Freedom Network as endorsers. Annie's List just made an additional $10,000 media buy on her behalf. Her opponent for this open seat in Houston (HD 133), Jim Murphy, is endorsed by several pro-life organizations.

Austin's Valinda Bolton (I) Scores Big (Again)
Bolton is one of Annie's List's successes, so they were happy to support her again with $40,000 plus inkind polling. A member of First Baptist, Austin, Bolton is also endorsed by Planned Parenthood and NARAL, and boasts membership in Texas Freedom Network. Donna Keel, her opponent in the race for HD 47, is pro-life.

Other big recipeints of $$ from Annie's List:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Veronica Gonzales (I), $20,000 for her challenge by pro-life Javier Villalobos for HD 41, McAllen.
Paula Pierson (I) returned to collect $25,000 for her challenge by pro-life Bill Burch for HD 93, Mansfield.
Sherri Metula got $20,000 for her challenge to pro-life John Davis (I) for HD 129 (Houston), and another $5,000 in polling, as well as inkind comsulting support. She is also endorsed by Planned Parenthood.
Carol Kent got $10,000 to help with her challenge of pro-life Tony Goolsby (I) for HD 93 (Dallas).
Diane Trautman who is challenging Paul Bettencourt for Harris Co. Tax Assessor, got a whopping $45,000 for a mere county race.