From Eric Dondero:

Libertarian Party replacing the Democrats as the Number Two Party in Texas? It's an intriguing possibility.

The Libertarian Party is hoping to run over 400 candidate for public office throughout Texas in 2010. A record for the state and for the party nationally. So many Libertarians are running, in fact, that it's quite possible that most Texas voters will more likely see a Libertarian choice on the ballot for state legislative races, next to Republican, rather than a Democrat.

We know so far that in a general sense the Texas Democrat Party is having serious problems filling slots for various offices around the State. The following comment from the big Democrat activist site MyDD, in an article about filing for Congressional seats around the Nation, is quite telling:

Texas is a problem for us as it has been for the last two cycles with 13 Districts still to fill, and 5 weeks to close of filings.

And then there's this intriguing bit of news out of DFW.

From the Dallas Morning News:

The hottest legislative race in Collin County will be in House District 66. Three Republicans and two Libertarians will vie to replace longtime state Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, who is not seeking re-election for the western Plano seat.

They include former Plano City Council member Mabrie Jackson; Wayne Richard, founder of an advertising technology firm and a group called the National Coalition for the Defense of American Sovereignty; and Van Taylor, a real estate financier and former Marine.

Libertarians Josef Novak and Benjamin Westfried will face off in a party convention in March for a spot on the November ballot.

No Democrats filed to run in any legislative races in Collin County.

In other races:

• In House District 67... No Democrat filed for the seat, either.

• In House District 70, incumbent Republican Ken Paxton will be challenged by Libertarian David A. Johnson

While certainly a bit of a double-edged sword for the GOP, it is a sure sign that the Democrat Party of Texas is in serious trouble.

Note - We'll known in a few days the final tally of how many filed on each ticket for the March 2 primary, and hope to report the results here.