They belong to different parties, but incumbent state Reps. Tim Kleinschmidt (R-Lexington) and Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs) have a lot in common. Representing adjacent GOP-leaning districts — filled with suburban and rural voters willing to vote for the right Democrats — both Central Texas lawmakers have walked fine partisan lines to win their seats and must do it again this year if they are to fend off relatively well-funded challengers.

While one’s being attacked from the left and one from the right, Kleinschmidt and Rose, who are both attorneys, are stressing their positions on increasing funding for public schools, supporting local water rights and opposing the construction of the Trans-Texas Corridor. Kleinschmidt faces Democrat Pati Jacobs, a consultant and cattle rancher, and Rose faces Republican Jason Isaac, a trucking industry consultant.

Jacobs has garnered support from Annie’s List, a political network for Democratic female candidates. The group touts House District 17 as an area traditionally loyal to Democrats: “Though a largely rural district, no Democratic state House candidate has lost this district in a mid-term election in the last 15 years,” according to the organization’s website.

In 2006, Kleinschmidt nearly knocked off incumbent Democrat Robby Cook, taking 48 percent of the vote to 49 percent for Cook, leaving Libertarian Roderick Gibbs with the remainder of 3 percent. In 2008, after Cook’s announced retirement, Kleinschmidt defeated Democrat Donnie Dippel 54-43 percent, with Libertarian Alan W. Duesterhoft taking 3 percent.

Libertarian candidate Travis Hill is on the ballot this year.

As of June 30, Jacobs held a cash advantage over Kleinschmidt, holding about $62,500 in her campaign account, compared to $38,600 for the incumbent, according to Texas Ethics Commission reports.

Both ranchers, Kleinschmidt and Jacobs have emphasized their commitment to laws protecting private property, well water, soil and planned growth, while attempting to undermine their opponent’s dedication to agribusiness — messages they hope will resonate with the many farmers and ranchers in the district, which stretches across all or part of six counties between Austin and Houston.

Meanwhile, in Rose’s adjacent HD 45, comprising Blanco, Caldwell and Hays counties south and west of Austin, the incumbent Democrat squares off against Isaac, who’s attempted to curry favor with the right-wing of his party, appearing recently at a rally on the steps of the state Capitol in response to Pres. Barack Obama’s visit to Texas.

Rose claimed the seat in 2002 by defeating GOP incumbent Rick Green by less than one percent of the vote, in a campaign that was the subject of a documentary broadcasted on PBS in 2004. Green fell short this year in the GOP primary for Texas Supreme Court.

Although some Republicans haven’t forgotten Rose’s role in the “Killer Ds,” a group of 52 House Democrats who fled to Ardmore, Okla., in 2003 to prevent a vote on a controversial mid-decade redistricting plan spearheaded by GOP leaders, Rose has since supported and been supported by Republicans, including former and current House Speakers Tom Craddick and Joe Straus.

Since his initial election, Rose has followed easier paths to victory in his three reelection bids, with margins of victory of 9, 24 and 22 points in the 2004, 2006 and 2008 general elections, respectively.

When campaign finance reports were released in mid-July, Isaac trumpeted an impressive cash-on-hand total of about $144,000, all raised during 2010. The majority of Isaac’s donations, however, came in the form of a single $100,000 donation from Robert Seale, CEO of CBG Holdings in Austin. Isaac also received $20,000 from Matthew Flake, president of CBG subsidiary Q2 Software.

Rose, meanwhile, has more than $571,000 in his campaign warchest. He raised about $262,000 during the last reporting period, including $35,000 from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry.

Isaac recently attacked Rose for using $1,000s in campaign contributions for gasoline and maintenance of his Ford pickup truck.

“While families and small businesses have been struggling to make ends meet, cutting back, carpooling and brown-bagging it, their state representative has been abusing the trust of his donors and constituents,” Isaac said in a news release posted on his website.

(Photos: Facebook/Tim Kleinschmidt; patrickrose.com)