Poll: Texas Gov. Rick Perry Has Narrow Lead Over Hutchison In GOP Primary
A new Rasmussen poll in Texas finds that Gov. Rick Perry -- the man who has suggested his state might secede from the United States -- is in a near-tie in his Republican primary against the popular U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison: Perry 42%, Hutchison 38%, with a ±4% margin of error.
You might think it's bad for the incumbent to be under 50% in his primary, but this could actually be a big improvement for Perry. There isn't another recent Rasmussen poll for direct comparison, but a survey from Public Policy Polling (D) back in February put Hutchison ahead 56%-31%.
Since then, Perry has been hitting the hustings in a big way and putting himself forward as the true conservative. And of course, Daily Kos/Research 2000 polling shows a majority of Texas Republicans approve of his secessionist teasing.
We should probably be rooting for Hutchison in this one. The Union cause is on the line!
Josh
Matt
Eric
This is gonna be an interesting race yes it will.
May 7, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
When I find myself rooting for Kay "Perjury really isn't a crime" Bailey Hutchinson I realize things are bad. Real bad.
May 7, 2009 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw this coming for along time. Perry may be an incompetent governor and a closet-case hypocrite, but Texas Republicans will always go for the hard-right candidate.
Like CT Voter said, it takes a lot to cheer for KBH. But if I lived in Texas I might just have to swallow my pride and vote for her in the GOP primary if it looks close when the election rolls around.
May 7, 2009 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Win or lose is KBH out of the Senate? Or does she lose the Gov primary and then run for re-election in the Senate?
May 7, 2009 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Her term isn't up until 2012.
May 7, 2009 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Knew it Called it
I know my Texicans!!
Every good Looziana boy does
May 7, 2009 5:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well there is a Draft Roger Staubach effort that could make for a more interesting primary, but Roger says he is backing KBH.
Staubach may be more interested in the Senate seat.
May 7, 2009 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
That settles it! I'm crossing over to vote in the republican primary for Hutchison. And when I do I'll show up in my "Republicans for Voldemort" T-shirt.
May 7, 2009 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
From far behind to tied. And all he had to do was advocate restarting the Civil War.
Embracing extremism works. So long as "works" means "impresses Republicans".
May 7, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has KBH announced she's running for gov, or is this just off-season polling?
May 7, 2009 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
From wikipedia:
May 7, 2009 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was wondering the same thing... Based on mcc's post, it looks like she hasn't yet actually entered the race. So, in that regard, for her to be polling even with Perry without even being a candidate isn't necessarily bad news for her.
May 7, 2009 9:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's a real hairdo man
Sitting in his hairdo land...
~
May 7, 2009 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems to me that the best thing for the Texas Democratic Party is for Perry to defeat Hutchinson. There was a pretty strong swing in the metro areas (including the suburbs, especially North DFW) towards Obama and a Perry defeat of Hutchinson would provide the opportunity to consolidate and build on that trend. Now even with that, the Dem gov candidate would probably need a very high Hispanic and African American turnout to win and without Obama on the ticket that may be tough, but I have a hard time envisioning any Texas Dem defeating Hutchinson.
May 7, 2009 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are right. Perry would be the weakest GOP candidate in November assuming the Democrats do not nominate someone who can be accused of money laundering for Mexican drug lords again.
May 8, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Two seats that are on noones radar that Dems have a very likely chance of picking up. Tx. and Ok. It looks like we can win an open race with some VERY strong Dems running and in Ok. Coburn is retiring and a VERY popular Gov is ready to take his spot (I gurantee it will be another Ben Nelson but a Dem is better than no Dem).
May 7, 2009 11:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Trouble is we don't have any strong Dem candidates to run in Texas.
May 8, 2009 8:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
KBH is the sane one.
THERE'S a sentence I never thought I'd utter.
May 8, 2009 11:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Perry got less than 40% of the vote the last time he was re-elected. He is the luckiest Aggie in politics. His streak will end next year, hopefully in the General election.
May 8, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink