Polls find Perry loss isn't out of the question

Houston Comical ^ | 9-12-06 | R.G. RATCLIFFE

[Hydroshock]

AUSTIN — Two polls released Monday found Gov. Rick Perry is vulnerable to defeat, but his campaign is questioning the surveys' accuracy.

Conventional wisdom in the governor's race has been that none of the governor's four opponents would have a chance to beat him if he gets more than 35 percent of the vote on Nov. 7. There is no runoff in the general election, so the top vote-getter wins.

Perry has hovered between 35 percent and 41 percent in public polls for months. But he has fallen into the defeatable zone in polls done by Rasmussen Reports and the Wall Street Journal/Zogby Online.

The Rasmussen poll put Perry's re-election support at 33 percent, and the Zogby poll had his support at 31 percent.

"It's hard to see him losing above 37 percent, but below 35 percent, somebody might get that much out of the remaining 65 percent of the vote," said University of Houston pollster Richard Murray, a Democrat.

But Perry spokesman Robert Black said the polls paid for by news media companies should not be trusted because their methodology is not sound political science.

[Hydroshock]

Like I said before, with Perry we DO have a dem in charge now.

[maeng]

You may think we do, but if the Dems man, Kinky, gets in you will be in for a rude awakening.

[pepperdog]

Yep, and if you could dig deep enough you'd find their fine fingerprints all over his candidacy, he is almost giving himself away with the Willie thing. I imagine he be advised to be a little quieter about that as the Dems don't really want to pull votes from their candidate./p>

[JFC]

dope smokers and people who are all for pro-choice (baby killings) will vote for Kinky.

Texas will NOT GO KINKY!

[maeng]

Right 0n!!

[Hydroshock]

We shall see, but he is moving up in the polls. Perry is moving down.

[maeng]

Why some people cannot understand that is beyond me. Anyone who has lived in Texas very long should be able to identify the Dems' handiwork. All wrapped up in this Jerk package.

[lormand]

"...big Texas land grab in the name of toll roads makes him far more of a liberal than a conservative"

So support of toll roads makes one a liberal?

Which playbook is that mentioned in?

[pepperdog]

I notice your tag line references Proverbs, and I guess you are aware how the former Governor Ventura feels about religious people, he said they are fools. And Mr. Kinky, while currently espousing a belief in school prayer proudly published a letter from his sister, in Texas Monthly magazine, that admired of the lack of religion that the Communists brought to Vietnam, in fact I believe it was referred to as a paradise. But hey, follow your heart.

[Wallace T.]

The main issue is not Friedman or Strayhorn, but Chris Bell, the Democrat. Conservatives angered by the corporate franchise tax and the Trans Texas Tollway may sit the race out or vote for Friedman or the Libertarian candidate. Some moderates may vote for Strayhorn. The Democratic Party has a near lock on the black vote and a large majority of the Hispanic vote. Combined with white liberals (including homosexuals) in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, the union vote, especially in the Beaumont - Port Arthur area, and even mostly elderly white "yellow dog" Democrats in rural Texas and blue collar communities in the urban areas, Chris Bell could easily get into the 35-40% range, which may be enough to win.

I am not saying this will happen, but it is also within the realm of possibility. Were the Democrats to capture the Texas governorship, it would be an instant morale booster for liberals and a major blow to Republican spirits. The one saving grace the GOP may have is the focus the national Democratic Party has on recapturing the U.S. Congress. Given that the Texas governor's office is weak and holding the office in 2010 for the Congressional reapportionment in 2011-12 would be an expensive proposition. Taking and holding the state houses in Ohio and Florida may be a better long-term bet for them.

I don't like the lesser of two, or least of four, evils, but it is the best Texas can do for now. Perhaps in 2010, when Perry becomes ineligible, a strong conservative can run for governor.

[Hydroshock]

I am following my head so I will vote for Kinky.

[AmishDude]

It's not whom you "vote for" or whom you "support", it's whom you elect. If you supported Perot, then you elected Clinton.

I am amazed at people who treat their vote like an ugly girl treats her virginity -- loudly proclaiming her unwillingness to give away that which nobody wants.

[ricer1]

The real power of Texas and the legislature is in the office of the Leut. Governor.
I'm not so sure that a democrat governor would have that much influence (except for a veto of a true tax cut bill.... That kind of thing would hurt).

[Hydroshock]

The problem is Perry is a rat with an r by his name. SO I am voting for who I thikn will do the least damage.

[maeng]

Agreed. God please send Texas a true Republican for Governor.

[Wallace T.]

Agreed with regard to the Governor's powers. However, taking President Bush's former office in a state that has been reliably Republican for almost 20 years would be a major coup for the Democrats. Remember that the election of John Tower as U.S. Senator in 1961 and Bill Clements as Governor in 1978 were regarded as Republican triumphs in what had been a solidly Democrat state since the end of Reconstruction.

[RichardW]

I never speak to any fellow Texan that is going to vote for Perry. He has flopped. My vote is for Kinky. We need a wholesale cleansing down in Austin and someone who will tell it like it is. Our tax system is a statewide scandal and our sales and real estate taxes outrageous and just makes me furious beyond belief. The big shots get huge pay checks while the peons (that's the rest of us) get the shaft. My vote is for Kinky and most everyone else I have talked to says exactly the same thing. I'm done with Perry. And I voted for him last election. Not this time. Time for a change.

Some people believe Kinky is a crazy liberal. I've listened to him up close and personal. That's bulloney. He's nothing of the kind. Some of his promises may sound off the wall but at least he is willing to try out new ideas which is something we need desperately in Texas. My $0.02.

[Hydroshock]

I am with you, to me he makes good old TX common sense.

[deport]

He used to be 1/2 of the famous "Battleground Polls"

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When would that have been?.... what year, which elections?

[Dog Gone]

Kinky supports gay marriage and abortion on demand. That even one person at this forum supports him is surprising.