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The "tea party" movement is showing its strength in Texas, where activist Debra Medina is siphoning votes from two much more familiar names running for the Republican nomination for governor. The Houston Chronicle's profile of Medina is worth a read. With less than two weeks remaining before early voting begins, Medina's campaign appears to be gathering steam; the latest Rasmussen Reports survey shows her drawing 16 percent of the vote, versus 29 percent for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who's trying to make the move from Washington to Austin, and 44 percent for the sitting governor, Rick Perry. The Medina threat...

A popular U.S. senator and an incumbent governor headline a close race, but a feisty conservative activist is gaining ground. ------------------ Last but by no means least is the most conservative of the bunch, Debra Medina. A Republican Party activist and the former Wharton County Republican Party chair, as well as the former state coordinator for the Campaign for Liberty, Medina is an admitted long shot, but she has seemingly pushed an awful lot of the right buttons with her share of likely voters: A new Rasmussen Reports poll revealed a significant shift to Medina among likely Texas primary voters....

The three Republican candidates for governor clashed in a final televised debate Friday night, sharpening their differences as they jockeyed for advantage going into the March 2 primary campaign.VOTE FOR MEDINA IN MARCH 2ND 2010 PRIMARY FOR TEXAS GOVERNOR SHE IS FOR ELIMIINATION OF PROPERTY TAX AND GUN REGISTRATION

Has anyone heard the results of last nights governor debate in Texas? I watched it and thought Medina did an excellent job. I am curious to know who is considered the winner of last nights debate.

"DALLAS (AP) — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and political activist Debra Medina ganged up on front-running Gov. Rick Perry on Friday in the final televised debate before the March 2 Republican primary." Medina won the online vote asking who won the debate with 97% of the vote.

AUSTIN — As the Republican candidates for governor prepare for what likely is their last debate tonight on statewide television, the first debate between Democrats Bill White and Farouk Shami has been set for Feb. 8 in Fort Worth.

The Republican candidates will meet for their second and likely final televised debate tonight (at least before the runoff). Sponsored by the Dallas Morning News and television stations owned by the Belo Corp., it can be seen live here in Austin at 7 p.m. on KVUE. Debra Medina tells the Wall Street Journal this morning that Gov. Rick Perry acted like a “jumpy, fidgety frat boy” in the first debate. Regardless of whether that was an apt description, expect a more serious, focused Perry tonight who is likely to hammer away at both Hutchison and Medina. He will talk...

Here's a snippet listing the top seven donors to each.... See the complete list at the link.... Top Givers to Hutchison H. Ross Perot, Dallas computer executive $110,000 William Greehey, San Antonio energy executive $100,000 Sid Bass, Fort Worth oilman $100,000 Edward Bass, Fort Worth venture capitalist $100,000 Robert and Martha Gillikin, Dallas $100,000 Peter and Edith O'Doinnell, Dallas $100,000 Barry Andrews, Dallas beer distributor $100,000 Top Contributors to Perry Bob Perry, Houston homebuilder, $200,000 T. Boone Pickens, Dallas oilman $100,000 Curtis Mewbourne, Tyler oilman $100,000 Blackridge Associates, Austin lobbyists $55,000 J. Bass, Dallas, Dallas investment adviser $50,000 Ray...

AUSTIN – Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sarah Palin have helped shift the landscape, but gender issues are still tricky for male candidates in political debates. Rick Perry may discover the pitfalls when, for the first time in his long political career he's the only man on stage tonight against two female contenders. From gestures to tone to r-e-s-p-e-c-t, the age-old tussle between men and women will be magnified by stage lights and close-up cameras during the hourlong Republican gubernatorial debate in Denton, broadcast live on public television...... Communications and political experts said that in facing off against women, Perry...

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry raised more than $7 million in the last six months and goes into the final stretch of the GOP primary for governor with $11.6 million in the bank. The total represents an escalation in fundraising in his re-election bid against Republican challenger Kay Bailey Hutchison. The deadline to file reports with the state for the latest fundraising period is Friday. Neither campaign has yet filed, but a person close to the Perry camp confirmed the amounts he will report. The contest between Perry and Hutchison for the Republican nomination in the March primary is...