Posted on 09/28/2009 7:28:26 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
The new Rasmussen poll is out and it has Kay Hutchison leading Rick Perry in the GOP gubernatorial primary 40-38 percent, with Debra Medina polling three percent.
Whether these Rasmussen numbers are right or not, I don't know. I'm not a pollster.
But they do raise an important point if the GOP governor's race remains close until the end. If these findings hold up over time, the culturally conservative Medina could cost Perry the race. Like Ralph Nader did to Al Gore in Florida, a protest candidate only needs to take a few points away from one of the major contenders to make a difference.
In this case, she would draw from Perry, who is doing all he can to ride the votes of social conservatives into securing the GOP nomination in March. Almost everyday the Perry camp sends out press releases touting their most recent endorsement by a socially conservative leader or organization. If Medina captures only a slender portion of this vote, she hurts Perry.
I haven't talked to her, so I don't know why she's running. She's cited issues like abolishing the property tax. But why would she be so upset with Perry, who arguably is as anti-tax as any movement conservative? And, heck, he's screeched so loudly about states' rights that he can look like a modern Lester Mattox.
I don't know, and it really doesn't make any difference why she's running. The fact is, she is and that could hurt Perry in a close race. The Medina factor could be one of the keys to the race.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com ...
Why don’t the hard right run a third party in 2012 and thereby assure 4 more years for the anointed one?
If Medina could do that to Perry with a lowly 3% number,
I am sure the hard right can save president Zero.
You will end up with a Corruptocrat as Governor, just like we ended up with Clinton as president because of the Perotistas and we ended up with Obama because of all the "I won't vote for McCain because of [insert reason here]" people.
You need to stop behaving like children throwing a temper tantrum and start looking at the bigger picture. Sure, McCain would not have been anyone's first choice but if he would have won at least he would have held a veto pen. Now we have a totalitarian demagogue as dictator complete with his own shadow government in the form of his "czars" and a rubber stamp Reichstag.
In Texas we have too many dirty Yankees and bleu state trash living here now. They will do their best Pavlov's dog imitation and vote Corruptocrat. The Corruptocrats are trying to split the Republican vote and they want Perry to lose the primary because they know he will beat any Corruptocrat they put up to run. They would love to have KBH because she is almost as good as a Corruptocrat so if they lose they still "win" because KBH will behave just like a Corruptocrat. Medina would get her ass kicked and we would end up with a Corruptocrat governor. So, the Corruptocrats need to get rid of Perry in order to win. That is why KBH all of a sudden is surging-she is getting assisstance from the Corruptocrats and their MSM propaganda wing along with money.
“You will end up with a Corruptocrat as Governor” . ..
we already have one.
“we ended up with Obama because of all the “I won’t vote for McCain”
I disagree. We ended up with Obama because McCain ran the campaign of a retard. He routinely trashed his supporters, discounted Palin and her support, went totally brain dead on the economic crisis, and practically endorsed Obama at every opportunity.
We ended up with McCain because he was the preferred choice of “The Party”, and the grass roots couldn’t coalesce behind one of either Huckabee, Thompson, Guilianni, or Romney. During primaries, I think the public is best served if voters make principled choices, if those choices happen to carry the day - the chances of winning in a General Election are very good.
While I agree it would be unwise to cast a Primary vote for a challenger who is polling in single digits, its far too early to see if Ms. Medina can pull within striking distance. At least at first glance, she seems far more conservatively grounded than either of the other two. If nothing else, giving her consideration will move the political discussion toward conservative issues.
Dumbest man to ever be TX Governor ? What about Mark White ?
“Perry’s weak, and the dumbest man to ever be Governor in the State of Texas”
I met Perry a few years ago at an event, and he had been drinking, as were most, but he was a few drinks ahead of most others. He struck me as rather friendly, not conceited. He was enjoying meeting and socializing with all sorts of people, telling jokes, enjoying conversation, etc. Perry struck me as the type who was probably a great college friend and a lot of fun.
As far as deep intellectual discussion, well, I would have to agree that one would need to go elsewhere for that. Most Freepers probably average a standard deviation or two higher on the IQ and knowledge scales.
But seriously, even when I think he is doing something boneheaded [TTC, business tax, requiring HPV], I still find him tolerable.
I have not met KBH. Can’t say whether she would be as much fun.
Buckeye, I just found this Facebook posting about Debra Medina’s plan to replace Texas Property tax with consumer tax. She bases her proposal on this study referenced below:
Debra advocates the abolition of property tax in favor of a broader based sales tax. This would bring us to revenue neutral in two years and allow us to lower the sales tax rate from 6.25% to 6.1%.
Debra has based her tax plan on a study done by Dr. Art Laffer called “Enhancing Texas’ Economic Growth Through Tax Reform.” The study was ... Read Morecommissioned ... Read Moreby the Texas Public Policy Foundation and was published in April of this year. You can see that study here: http://tinyurl.com/ybb9x3t
You can also listen to Debra elaborate on this plan in her interview on the Mark Davis Show: http://tinyurl.com/ye69x8q
Ping to the group to comment #26 for updated details about Debra Medina's tax plan proposal.
For background, see our group discussion about property taxes v. consumption taxes on this 8/26/09 thread.
Probably the Medina factor.
I am touched that you would remember me!
On a side note, I am very much undecided on the March 2010 Gov vote. On the one hand, I like the rebellious streak of Medina and her small government, free from Texas insider money, approach that she would bring to our state. On the other hand, if Perry v KBH is really close, I may put aside my inclination to register a protest vote [a Medina vote] and pick Perry as what I would consider to be a much better choice than KBH.
The best thing to come out of all of this is that we have a chance to put Williams in as a US Senator!
Anyway, that particular conversation was (IMHO) thought-provoking, which forced me to research the various issues presented on the thread and seriously consider where I stand on property taxes v. consumption taxes. I love that about FR - so many opportunities to further my knowledge.
I'm in total agreement with you about voting for Medina. I like what little I know about her. If, by some miracle, she stands a chance to win the primary, I'd vote for her not just as a protest vote but also as an affirmation of the policies we need for Texas. However, I am so against KBH, that I will not risk putting her in the governor's office. So, miracles aside, Rick Perry gets my vote.
I have heard from a local candidate with insider pollsters in Dallas that Medina may be legitimately polling around 15 to 17% at this time.
Watch for her numbers after the Debates tomorrow night!
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