TX GOV: Before And After
Wharton Co. GOP chair Debra Medina (R) started the week surging, thanks to 2 debate performances, and many wondered whether she would shock the political establishment and make it to the TX GOV runoff. But for every rise, there is a fall, and Medina's refusal to rule out government involvement in the Sept. 11 attacks let both her better-funded rivals pounce.
A poll earlier this week showed us the "before" picture -- Gov. Rick Perry (R) led the GOP primary with 42% to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's (R) 30% to Medina's 17%. With Medina looking less likely to win the primary, GOPers still run ahead of likely Dem nominee/ex-Houston Mayor Bill White, according to the Research 2000 poll conducted for the liberal Daily Kos website.
The poll surveyed 600 likely voters between Feb. 8-10 for a margin of error of +/- 4%. Perry, Hutchison and Medina were tested against White.
General Election Matchups Perry 46 Hutchison 47 White 42 White 41Medina 44
White 43
It's not like White has no shot at all. Perry only won his second full term in office, in '06, with 39% of the vote, ahead of ex-Rep. Chris Bell (D), ex-Comp. Carole Keeton Strayhorn (I) and entertainer Kinky Friedman (I).
But to get to the general, Perry -- or Hutchison -- may face an added election. If Medina, who is running to the right of both Perry and Hutchison, slides enough, Perry could hit the 50% mark needed to avoid a runoff. But if Hutchison and Perry make it to the runoff, it's as if the millions the two have spent on the race almost haven't mattered.
A test of 400 GOP LVs, for a margin of error of +/- 4.9%, shows Perry leading Hutchison in a runoff by a 43%-33% margin -- with 24% of voters still undecided.
If neither candidate gets 50% of the vote in the Mar. 2 primary, the top 2 vote-getters advance to an Apr. 13 runoff.
Yeah well, The New Yorkers and D.C. pundits can root for whomever they want. It is us Texans that will be doing the voting and THIS TEXAN is still voting for Medina!
Corporate cohorts of Rick and Kay tried to manufacture a controveesy, media spin is already backfiring.
Medina is the only hope. Keep going till victory, don't let the bastards bring you down.
Medina lost many votes. Including this one. She won't stop talking about 9/11 now she says no nypd cops died on nyfd fire fighters. BS over 60 cops gave their lives to protect the USA. She has lost it and perry will win with no runoff. Noone made medina say these crazy things. Sit down and shut up!
This life-long Texan and his whole family want change. We're voting Medina.
This Texan is very disappointed with Medina on this one. Although her comments on 9/11 were indeed loony, my choice is now between "a bit loony" or "a lot loony". I put Perry and Hutchison in the "lot loony" column. I've seen enough political loonacy from the "experienced" politicians that I will take my chances with Medina and hope she learns from this error in judgement.
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