The Midday Brief: Nov. 1, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• "A state GOP group interested in redistricting gave $25,000 worth of ads last Wednesday to Stefani Carter, the Republican challenger to Rep. Carol Kent, D-Dallas, according to telegram reports to the Texas Ethics Commission." — Late money helps Carter, Driver, Kent, Turner, Trail Blazers

• "Lawyers in the Tom DeLay conspiracy trial argued Monday about whether DeLay’s activities were illegal acts or just good politics." — DeLay’s acts: Illegal or good politics?, Postcards

• U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison: "It's very close. We now have the bench. We have governors, senators, members of Congress. That is where the likely woman president is going to come from. I have no doubt that we will have a woman president — not only in my lifetime, but in the near future." — Hutchison predicts first female president in "near future," PoliTex

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Early voting totals from the secretary of state this morning show that early voting is up big-time statewide compared to the last gubernatorial election in 2006." — Early Voting Up 61% Over 2006