The Texas gubernatorial race could still be a close one, according to a new poll from a consortium of Lone Star State newspapers this weekend. The poll of likely voters was conducted last week and shows incumbent Gov. Rick Perry (R) leading Democratic nominee Bill White 46-39.
“It certainly looks like [Perry] is headed for another term,” pollster Mickey Blum told the Austin American-Statesman. “Not that Bill White couldn’t get it.”
Still, internals of the poll show that’s an uphill climb:
Despite White’s yearlong effort to attract independents and Republicans, the race breaks down along party lines. Republicans and right-leaning independents largely support Perry, while Democrats and left-leaning independents prefer White.But there are more Republicans than Democrats in Texas, and GOP voters are more excited about the election, so White has been stuck in second place.
Catching Perry will be difficult because the Texas electorate is relatively stable, Blum said.
The TPM Poll Average of the Perry-White matchup shows Perry leading 46.8-40.8. The Texas newspapers poll included two other minor candidates who drew 5% support. A similar poll conducted by the University of Texas in early September showed Perry leading White by a margin of 39-33.
Evan McMorris-Santoro
Evan McMorris-Santoro has covered politics for TPM since 2009. Before that, he was a reporter at National Journal’s Hotline covering election 2008. He started his career covering local politics at newspapers in TN and his native NC.
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