Newspapers' poll: Perry has comfortable lead as voting starts [TxGov]

American Statesman ^ | Feb. 13, 2010 | Jason Embry and Corrie MacLaggan

[deport]

Gov. Rick Perry heads into the start of early voting Tuesday with a comfortable lead over his two Republican primary challengers, but he could be in for a tough November fight against the Democratic nominee, a poll commissioned by the Austin American-Statesman and other Texas newspapers shows.

Perry has the support of 45 percent of likely Republican primary voters, while 29 percent back U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and 17 percent support Wharton activist Debra Medina. Just 8 percent are undecided.

The telephone survey was conducted Feb. 2-10, before Medina said important questions had been raised about whether the U.S. government aided in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Medina later said she has never believed the government was involved, but her initial remarks could weaken her momentum.

In fact, Medina's comments could allow Perry to win more than 50 percent of the vote in the March 2 primary and avoid a runoff, said pollster Mickey Blum of Blum & Weprin Associates, which conducted the survey.

Usually, incumbents don't build support in the final weeks of an election, Blum said. But Perry could break the 50 percent threshold if Medina's comments cause her supporters to break toward Perry or stay home.

Poll results

end excerpts.....

[Pantera]

Marty62, I agree with that statement and that is a great point. I think Perry has a lot of things to offer that Medina does not. Medina is the strongest states rights/Constitution candidate in the running and I hope that this embolden’s Perry’s views on the subject. However, Perry has kept our economy in relatively good shape but he has his faults, too.

I just get irritated by people on FR taking a single terrible answer and turning it into something it is not in order to destroy a candidate that on 99% of the issues would agree with most Freepers.

[The Anti-One]

Hear! Hear! It’s time for Steele and his minions in the RNC and around the country to get it through their thick heads that we aren’t going to take it any more. We are sick and tired of liberals pretending to be Conservatives under the guise of being “moderates.” They are nothing less than wolves in sheep’s clothing and need to be run off!

[native texan]

I have said before and will say again, Texas is in pretty good shape compared to the rest of the states. Perry may not be the wonderful conservative everyone wants, but he’s done an ok job. And remember, in Texas the Gov. doesn’t have all that much power anyway. It is the railroad commissioner that swings the biggest hammer.

[LoneStarC]

Regardless of your opinion of Perry, the problem remains that the realistic fact is that the other choices are a democrat, a fairly acceptable libertarian until she self destructed by embracing the 911 truther cult, and Kay Bailey Hutchinson, an absolute statist RINO committed to big government [federal] solutions.

Also, Perry has - like it or not - been governor, along with and succeeding GWB, during the period in which Texas has become first in the nation in traditional american business and citizen freedom.

Consider the prospect of a national California or Illinois and then look at Texas.

Also, Perry now is much better than Perry in the past. It is a bit easier to accept past sins repented than future sins intended.

[Dudoight]

Yeah....I don’t want any of the three. If Kinky was in the running, I would vote for him.

But have to vote for Perry in hopes he can whip the Democrat.

[The Anti-One]

"I just get irritated by people on FR taking a single terrible answer and turning it into something it is not in order to destroy a candidate that on 99% of the issues would agree with most Freepers."

So let me get this right. You think Perry is right 99% of the time? And even if he is you are happy with that? Would you eat a meal that was composed of 1% Arsenic, Strychnine or Cyanide?

No. You wouldn't. But you will allow for a man/woman to enslave you by imposing more and more government and their regulations on you and you won't do anything to stop it. Just so long as they do it slowly right?

Just as you get irritated by people taking a stand and saying enough is enough I get irritated with people that have no backbone. I get irritated with people that will NOT stand up and say enough is enough. If a politician cannot represent the majority of his/her constituents ALL OF THE TIME then he/she is NOT getting my vote and I don't care who my opinion irritates.

[The Anti-One]

"Also, Perry has - like it or not - been governor, along with and succeeding GWB, during the period in which Texas has become first in the nation in traditional american business and citizen freedom."

Uh huh... No thanks to the "businessmen/women" themselves right? And why do you ignore that facts that Texas has also become first in the country with it's illegal alien population. Houston is a sanctuary city and their are more cops and other bureaucrats in Texas than any other state in the Union barring California and New York. Houston alone has EIGHTY FIVE (85) different police forces in the metropolitan area. Perry is turning Texas into a police state and not doing a thing to stop it all the while he and his cronies in Austin are allowing the Mexicans to invade unimpeded and in many cases with State assistance.

Texas is number one in business in the country because most Texans are hard workers. Not because some governor did anything special. However, if you want to change that feel free to put perry or hutchinson in for another term and watch as they fall into lockstep with the obama administration.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I don't think she's a Truther, sorry.
She is not a professional politician hence her conflicting statements.
You should also realize that many of the Tea Party folks are the same people who supported Ron Paul's presidential campaign, so don't be surprised at equating her with them.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Rick Perry does not think 9/11 was an inside job

Produce evidence that Medina and the Pauls support Trutherism other than statements taken out of context.

Perry is a globalist.

[e_castillo]

I listened to it and was real disappointed in her. She shot herself point blank and just in case the first round didn’t do the job she reloaded and tried again. :)

[Pantera]

Anti-One, I think Medina is 99% right and badly fumbled a silly conspiracy question. She is the strongest state sovereignty and Constitutional candidate running in Texas, therefore, I will vote for Medina.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I am no great fan of Perry, but he is a conservative.

Supporting mandate vaccinations of HPV & the TTC are not conservative positions.

Also telling everyone that they're going to Hell is not conservative either.

[jospehm20]

So, you’ll vote for the 9-11 was an inside job chick instead?

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Kat Bailey Hutchison should resign her Senate seat and let a real conservative Republican like Congressman Jeb Hensarling win it. KBH is a total failure and a Democrat boot licker.

[Squantos]

Yeah.....crazy !!

We’re getting some flurries right now. Ya’ll getting any ?

Great to hear from ya !

Stay Safe

[agondonter]

Medina has our vote also. We met her last Thursday night....the same day of the fateful Beck call. After the call I was very disappointed realized I would have to vote for Perry.

I’m glad I went to the meeting. After hearing Medina speak in person and meeting her my confidence was won again. How many posting here have actually heard Medina speak in person......how many have actually met her in person?

[Carley]

Agree, but I doubt she will resign if she loses the primary. She can read the polls too.

[dusttoyou]

At least Gov Goodhair won’t have any nasty surprises for us.

Kay Bailey needs to stay in the Senate or go ahead and retire and let Michael Williams give it a shot.

Too bad about Deb.

Saw a commercial for Bill White, is this guy a “barney fwank”? He may have been electable in squirelly-assed Houston, but the only person he will beat in Texas is his “boyfriend”.

[deport]

Those of you that do vote for a person lacking a spine and character just to keep someone else out of office should be ashamed of yourselves for having no principles.

---

Stand on your high and mighty principals all you want but I’ll stand on mine and vote to keep a dem out of the office. The two aren’t the same no matter how you spin it.

[The Anti-One]

"So, you’ll vote for the 9-11 was an inside job chick instead?"

Two things. 1) I've never heard her say that she believed 9/11 was an inside job. Did you? 2) What does her view on whether or not it was an inside job have to do with her becoming Governor? I'd say that if she has some doubts on the subject that makes her just like me and millions of other Texans. It would also give her a serious distrust for the establishment in Washington and here in Texas and again... something I share.

Now before you try and blast me as a "Truther" be warned. I have not said one way or another what I believe. I am ignorant about what really happened as she said she was and until you or someone else can produce one of the four black boxes from the two Airplanes that struck the WTC I suspect you are too.

While I like Glenn Beck he does not do my thinking for me. I've listened to his interview with Medina and she NEVER took a stand on that subject one way or the other. To say differently is disingenuous. I will say however that I would vote for a "truther" in a New York second over Perry or Hutchison. The way our current government has been pulling the wool over our eyes with everything from the environment to the war on terror I think it would be very refreshing to have someone a little skeptical of the status quo in office.