Texas Governor: Perry (R) Dips to 35% Three Other Contenders Now Attract 18% Each

RasmussenReports.com ^ | August 9, 2006

[SwinneySwitch]

Three months from the election, the twisty four-way race for Texas Governor continues to keep political junkies on the edge of their seats.

Republican Governor Rick Perry's support has dropped by five percentage points since our July poll, as Democrat Chris Bell escapes last place to draw even with the two Independents in the race. So now it's Perry 35%, Bell 18%, Carole Keeton Strayhorn (I) 18%, Kinky Friedman (I) 18%.

Texas law makes those numbers look even better to Perry. There's no general-election runoff in Texas; if a candidate wins only a plurality on Election Day, he gets the job.

[SwinneySwitch]

Texas Senate: Hutchison Cruising

Hutchison 61%, Radnofsky 31%

[Hydroshock]

That means there is 11% undecided. This could be fun.

[Moral Hazard]

"Three months from the election, the twisty four-way race for Texas Governor continues to keep political junkies on the edge of their seats."

Looks to me like Perry has had a margin over the number 2 candidate by greater than the number of undecideds plus the margin of error throughout the election cycle. It may be weird for that to be true for a candidate at 35%, but it's never looked like he is in serious trouble.

[Hydroshock]

He maybe, I was listening to KSEV in Houston and heard the same from a liberal coworker of mine. Many dems are seriously thinking about jumping from Bell to Strayhorn if it looks like she can win. If this happens she may get within shooting distance.

[evets]

Don't make me go 'Chuck Norris' on ya'll!

[Richard Kimball]

Texas continues it's tradition of politicians with goofy nick names. The ballot, after the lawsuits will look like this:

Governor Goodhair (R)

"Kinky" Friedman (without the Texas Jewboys) (I)

"Grandma" Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn McLellan (and whoever else she marries between now and election day) (I)

That Dem guy that nobody remembers his name (D)

[Moral Hazard]

"He maybe, I was listening to KSEV in Houston and heard the same from a liberal coworker of mine. Many dems are seriously thinking about jumping from Bell to Strayhorn if it looks like she can win. If this happens she may get within shooting distance."

If Chris Bell is down to 18% it would seem his support consists almost entirely of hardcore Democrats. It's hard to imagine him going much lower.

[Jaded]

He may curse too. He has such perfect hair!

[Paleo Conservative]

That Dem guy that nobody remembers his name (D)

And neither does his face ring a bell.

[dfwgator]

[SwinneySwitch]

Texas Poll Ping!

[garyhope]

"Carole Keeton Strayhorn"

"One obnoxious, arrogant, smug, condescending, self-righteous, left wing grandma"

[Hydroshock]

This person is a hard core green party member who is thinking of going She of Many Names. It will be fun to watch. But you have to admit it looks bad that in a state as conservative TX, that a sitting republican governor who is a personal friend of GWB's can't get over 40% of the vote.

[Hydroshock]

Please put me on this poll list. Thanks.

[Hydroshock]

A friend of mine jokingly calls her She Of Many Names.

[Moral Hazard]

"But you have to admit it looks bad that in a state as conservative TX, that a sitting republican governor who is a personal friend of GWB's can't get over 40% of the vote."

Maybe, but from what I understand Rick Perry isn't a very good governor, though certainly not at Pataki like levels of crapulence.

And it's not like the people in Texas are becoming less Republican. Just look at the poll for the Senate race indicates.

[Hydroshock]

Perry is a tax and spend rino. He also once a democrat, I have lon thought he changed parties not views.

[PDR]

I refuse to believe that Kinky Friedman really has the support 18 percent of the electorate in Texas... his presence in the race is throwing off the numbers.... Perry is stronger than 35 percent.

[The South Texan]

"This person is a hard core green party member who is thinking of going She of Many Names. It will be fun to watch. But you have to admit it looks bad that in a state as conservative TX, that a sitting republican governor who is a personal friend of GWB's can't get over 40% of the vote."

I think a chunk of people that might have voted for Perry. will vote for Kinky Freidmen. There are quite a few of us that are pretty ticked off about the property tax "relief" plan that was just passed. Sure he might have cut the tax rate. But nowhere did they go after the out of control property appraisal boards around the state that are pricing people out of their homes by raising values big time year after year without any restraint.

That's why I voting for Kinky. Why the hell not?

[GeronL]

Its sad to have 5 nutters on the ballot for Governor.... which is the lesser of Nutjobs?? Perry... I guess. If I win the lotto before election day he has my vote.