Texas Poll: 50% disapprove of Perry; Strayhorn: "Perry has abdicated his responsibilities"

The Dallas Morning News ^ | March 6, 2004 | By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News

[MeekOneGOP]

Texas Poll: 50% disapprove of Perry

Support at new low; governor, wife blast marital rumors

10:06 PM CST on Friday, March 5, 2004

By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN ­ Gov. Rick Perry's job approval rating has tumbled to its lowest point in his administration, with half of Texans surveyed in a new poll saying they don't like the job he's doing.

Fifty percent of the respondents in the Winter 2004 Texas Poll released Friday said they believed the governor was doing poorly, while 40 percent said they believed Mr. Perry was doing well – a 27-point drop in his approval since November 2001. Ten percent either had no opinion or gave no answer.

The poll was released, coincidentally, on the day Mr. Perry publicly denounced rumors that his marriage was in trouble, that his wife, Anita, was filing for divorce and that he was leaving office.

Mrs. Perry on Friday also expressed anger and disappointment about weeks of gossip that grew from snowball to avalanche proportions.

"It's very sad that some people believe that spreading false, vicious and hurtful rumors is acceptable behavior. Rick and I are both outraged that people would drag our family into such ugly, politically motivated nonsense," Mrs. Perry said.

What had been an Internet-fueled whisper campaign, unsubstantiated by mainstream media, broke into the open when Mr. Perry attacked the rumors as a calculated, partisan campaign.

"They are not correct in any shape, form or fashion," Mr. Perry told the Austin American-Statesman. "These are irresponsible. They're salacious. They're hurtful to my family."

He declined, through his spokesman, any further comment on Friday.

Political observers, including those in his own party, said they believe the governor's poor poll numbers are based on a year of bitter, rancorous fights over redistricting and balancing a $9.9 billion deficit by cutting social services and teachers' benefits, raising fees and allowing large hikes in college tuition.

Strayhorn's response

"Texans know that this governor has abdicated his responsibilities and created local crises in education and health care by signing laws that balanced the budget on the backs of schoolteachers and our most vulnerable Texans," said Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, a fellow Republican who has fought the governor on policy issues.

She cited a number of new costs to Texans, including $2.7 billion in new fees and the loss of $1.6 billion in federal money because of state cuts in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

"And most distressing as a momma and grandmomma are 107,000 children thrown off the health insurance rolls in the last five months. That's unconscionable," Mrs. Strayhorn said.

Kathy Walt, the governor's press secretary, said Mr. Perry has made hard decisions that were "in the best interest of all Texans."

"Gov. Perry has demonstrated leadership by tackling tough issues like solving budgetary problems without raising taxes, creating jobs and expanding the economy, and improving our children's education," Ms. Walt said.

"Gov. Perry governs by principle, not polls," she said.

The Texas Poll also showed President Bush's approval dropping in his home state, although it is still comfortably high: 55 percent of Texans approve of the job he's doing, while 43 percent disapprove. It is the lowest approval rating he's registered in Texas as president.

The telephone poll of 1,000 Texans was conducted Feb. 12-March 3, by the Scripps Research Center and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. The poll was weighted to reflect Texas' political makeup, with 35 percent of the respondents being Republican, 28 percent Democrats and 24 percent Independent.

Interpretation

Southern Methodist University political science professor Cal Jillson said he believes the poll numbers are "the last couple of years coming to roost."

He said that most people are worried about the economy and jobs, and the poll numbers show that many don't feel the governing Republican officials are being responsive.

"You don't get a much starker image," than Mr. Perry, "jetting off to talk education reforms" to the Bahamas last month with some of his biggest contributors and a handful of conservative consultants, Dr. Jillson said.

"A picture begins forming in people's minds of an administration losing touch with regular, Main Street Texans," he said.

Dr. Jillson said he doubted the rumors concerning the Perrys affected the poll numbers.

"That's grist for the political class," he said, saying most Texans were unaware or unconcerned about gossip concerning marital fidelity.

"I think it's policy and not Internet rumors that has the governor at historic lows in his favorability ratings," Dr. Jillson said.

E-mail choppe@dallasnews.com

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Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/030604dntexperry.a43e.html

[MeekOneGOP]

[ambrose]

looks like Ms Strayhorn may be responsible for the rumors, not the Rats.

Is she a RINO?

[deport]

Ms. Carol Keeton Rylander Strayhorn it will give me great pleasure to cast a vote against you if you choose to contend against Gov Perry.

These polls say redistricting is part of the problem but I'll never believe that a majority or against him for taking the Legislature into session three times to get it done....... Sure the dems don't like it but they aren't the majority ......

[MeekOneGOP]

I suspect that she likely is a RINO. I support Perry.
I think she has visions of running for governor(ess) ??

[SwatTeam]

Absolutely, in fact, I think she is a converted Republican.

[DrewsDad]

Just more GRAND(MA)STANDING. I think there was a poll a few months ago showing Perry beating grandma something like 68-28%.

[Paleo Conservative]

Absolutely, in fact, I think she is a converted Republican.

But so is Perry.

[deport]

Link to the Houston Chronicle hit piece about the same info from earlier today...........

Perry's job rating declines to 40%, according to poll

[Tall_Texan]

She's John Kerry's counterpart - bankrolls her career by marrying into money over and over again.

Former liberal Democrat Mayor of Austin best noted for crying once during a city council meeting back in the 1970s. While I have my issues with Perry, I absolutely refuse to vote for Keeton/Rylander/Strayhorn. How she manages to keep rising in the Republican Party distresses me.

[MeekOneGOP]

Yeah ! It'll be a cold day in Hades when I support Strayhorn versus Perry.

It will be a pleasure to pad the GOP majority in the U.S. House with the
additional 4-6 Texas GOP seats !

[SwatTeam]

Maybe so. A lot of people grow up and become aware of the differences and change. And some like Strayhorn change when they see how the wind is blowing.

[jf55510]

Absolutely, in fact, I think she is a converted Republican.

But so is Perry.

Yeah, but Perry wasn't the mayor of the most liberal assbackwards city in the state. Perry was a Dem because a Republican couldn't win. Carole Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn < your name here > needs to STFU.

[Endeavor]

Like any professor from SMU would have a clue about how the average Texan lives? Puhleeze.

Texans don't pay an income tax. They should quit bitching about Perry's cuts and the rise in tuition - Texas schools are dirt cheap. This is so typical of the liberal tripe being trumpeted across the country.

Wouldn't it be interesting to see how any democrat would climb out of a deficit w/o making the same cuts? Get serious people.

[deport]

They should quit bitching about Perry's cuts and the rise in tuition - Texas schools are dirt cheap.

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Not sure where you are from since you don't fly a state flag, but if Texas is your home then you may get your wish regarding raising tuition. I think some are going upwards of 30%+ in their schedules.

[Paleo Conservative]

< your name here > needs to STFU.

LOL!

I can't remember how many times she's been divorced and remarried.

[solo gringo]

Governor Rick Perry Has done a good job and IMHO strayhorn or D.A.Earle are the rumor spreaders or mabe both are working together.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I thought this b!tch was supposed to be bought off with having Scott replace Ari? Scott's a definite downgrade. Why else employ him? Bush should be feared more in Texas politics. My question to everyone who might know is "why isn't he?" Why can't Bush nip this in the bud?

[JohnnyZ]

"Texans know that this governor has abdicated his responsibilities ..." said Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn

Is there any further doubt that this witch is RINO scum?

Of course, there are quite a few FReepers who are more than ready to knife Perry in the back as well.

[PAR35]

Robin Hood is a key issue in some of the most heavily Republican areas of the state. If Perry continues to avoid the school finance issue, and another candidate plays it up during the primary, Perry could well lose the Republican nod.

[deport]

If Perry continues to avoid the school finance issue, and another candidate plays it up during the primary, Perry could well lose the Republican nod.

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He'll have to address school finance this year in a special session or two..

The Governor's race isn't until 2006...... so a long way off to that primary season.