A new survey of Texas by Public Policy Polling (D) finds that even though Gov. Rick Perry has mobilized his Republican base on a Tea Party platform, there is nevertheless no appetite for their favorite son to seek the presidency. In a Republican presidential primary, Perry is way at the back of the pack.
The numbers: Newt Gingrich 23%, Mike Huckabee 18%, Palin 17%, Romney 14%, and finally Rick Perry and fellow Texan Ron Paul at 8% each. The survey of GOP primary voters has a ±4.38% margin of error. Furthermore only 14% of GOP primary voters think Perry should run for president, with 63% saying he should not.
“We still are very far away from the primary election. However it is interesting that Texas Republicans prefer leading national Republicans over their own Governor,” writes PPP president Dean Debnam “especially when they chose Governor Perry over Senator Hutchinson, who many considered a Washington insider.” (Referring to Perry’s landslide win in his Republican primary this past March, when he was challenged by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.)
Late Update: Perry really was dead last. When asked for comment, PPP told us that Ron Paul received exactly one more respondent than Perry did, with both rounding to 8%. Keep in mind that this difference has absolutely no statistical value, of course — but it sure is entertaining.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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