TX-Gov: Perry Takes Lead From Hutchison in New UT Poll

[ccharles000]

UT-Austin (6/11-22, GOP voters, 2/24-3/6 in parens):

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R): 27 (36)
Rick Perry (R-inc): 38 (30)
Leo Berman (R): 1
Other: 7 (11)
Undecided: 26 (24)
(MoE: ±5.2%)

This is the third poll we've seen of the Texas gubernatorial primary since May (Rasmussen gave Perry a four-point lead, but a Baselice internal for Perry had KBH ahead by seven), and they all point to what appears to be one hell of a battle ahead of us. Despite KBH's broad popularity in the state, Perry is still posting competitive numbers, and he's no pushover when it comes to fundraising, either; he ended June with $9 million in the bank after raising $4.2 million in the last nine days of the month (the first period of the year in which he could legally accept donations).

Of course, with this poll's rather rotund margin of error and its elongated sampling period, take this one with as many grains of salt as you desire. Less useful are these numbers of the Democratic primary:

Kinky Friedman (D): 13
Leticia Van de Putte (D): 12
Tom Schieffer (D): 3
Mark Thompson (D): 2
Someone else: 14
Undecided: 62
(MoE: ±6%)

Yeah, that's right: Kinky Effin' Friedman is leading the Democratic pack at this point, just barely nosing non-candidate Leticia Van de Putte. (Although, I suppose that "Someone else" technically has the lead...) Not included in this poll is former Travis Co. DA Ronnie Earle, who recently filed papers for a statewide run. It's unclear, though, if Earle is more interested in Governor or Attorney General.

UT also included a Senate special election question in this round, and they found Democrat John Sharp leading the pack with a whopping 10% of the vote, followed closely by a pack of seven other candidates. With 62% of the electorate undecided, I think we can sit on this one until the race becomes a bit more defined.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/diary/5253/txgov-perry-takes-lead-from-hutchison-in-new-ut-poll

[ccharles000]

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