The Republican candidates are not exactly setting the woods on fire. I look for lukewarm support to continue through the fall. George W. Bush will have to campaign heavily in Texas, in my opinion, for those guys to have a good shot of winning.
On the other hand, the Dems got just the ticket they wanted. They will get the Blacks and Hispanics out in droves to vote a straight Dem ticket. Kirk will get Hollywood money and big national support once the polls show he has a chance. Sanchez has tons of money and may spend $50 million of his own to be the Gov.
If he wins, Kirk will be a national star for the Dems. (Not on his own merit, but because he is Black and most of he is from TEXAS). He will be held up as a symbol that Bush was weak in his own state. He will also be a symbol of what block voting by minorities can do with a big turn out.