PPP--Texas Governor: Perry (R) 53% White (D) 44%

[WI_DEM]

(looks like Gov. Goodhair is who the majority of Texans want as their Governor):

Rick Perry's in a solid position for reelection as Governor of Texas, leading Bill White 53-44 on PPP's final poll of the race.

For White it may be a classic case of the right candidate running in the wrong cycle. He has strong favorability numbers at a 46/39 spread while Perry can only break even on his approval rating at 45% giving him good marks and 45% bad ones. White leads with independent voters 50-44. That makes him one of very few Democratic candidates anywhere in the country leading with that group this year and it's all the more impressive given that Barack Obama's approval rating with that same ground of independents is a 33/55 spread.

Ultimately though to win as a Democrat in Texas you're going to have to win a fair amount of crossover support from Republican voters and in the end White just wasn't able to do it. Just 11% of GOP voters are planning to support him, a number equivalent to the 11% of Democrats who plan to vote for Perry. In this highly polarized political climate Republicans just aren't particularly inclined to vote for any Democrat, even an unusually appealing one like White.

Even if he isn't ultimately successful White's candidacy could have some positive benefits for other Democrats in the state locked in close races. Texas is seeing virtually no enthusiasm gap, especially when compared to the huge drops in Democratic turnout PPP is seeing as likely to happen in other states. Having an appealing person at the top of the ticket has the party's voters there more engaged than in most places.

It looks like Rick Perry will beat back a strong opponent for the second time this year. There's no politician in the country this year who's defeated a more formidable duo than Kay Bailey Hutchison and Bill White.

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/

[saltpoint]

1. It's too bad so many people in Texas think Rick Perry

is an acceptable excuse for a public servant.

I was hoping to douse the fire of his higher ambitions with a win by White.

With re-election Tuesday, Perry's Potomac Fever is going to be on the rise.

[texastoast]

2. Wait and see

I've been canvassing in a 78% straight puke ticket county and I cannot tell you of the number of crossover votes. I do think it will be within a 1% margin, so my Texas butt is phonebanking and walking. For Bill, but mostly because I love the Texas I grew up in and it has nothing to do with Rick Perry. He has already sold his soul and would sell Texas'.

And the stupid fucking Texans who would vote for him are either clueless or they like getting screwed without being kissed, because that's what Perry has been doing to all of them.

[WI_DEM]

5. Glad to hear it and thank you for your work.

[MilesColtrane]

3. I guess the strategy of hiding and spending millions on attack ads works.

God, I hate that fucker Perry.

[budkin]

4. Perry is despised here in Austin but everyone else in TX loves him because he wants to secede

[texastoast]

7. No, "everyone" doesn't love him

A BUNCH of Republicans can't stand him, but they are too stupid to see that he continues to screw them then laugh at them behind their backs. They "just can't bring themselves to vote for a Democrat," so I've been sweetly commiserating, saying, "I understand. But if you can't vote for Bill, please vote for anyone but Perry if you love Texas."

Then I had the one voter who said, "Rick Perry is a Good Christian Man. I don't care about Texas. I'm a damned Yankee." Those are the ones who I just wish would get the hell out.

[Zen Democrat]

6. My boss voted for White -- the first Dem he's ever voted for in his life.

And just because he's so sick and embarrassed by Perry. I was SHOCKED when he told me he voted for White. I mean, he's a middle-aged man and has never voted for another Democrat ever.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. From the polling which I have read, Texans are tired of Perry, but

not enough to elect a Democrat.

[NatBurner]

9. i'm optimistic. especially in light of the attempted voter fraud in houston

Fake Group Hands Out Fliers Meant To Mislead Black Voters In Texas

Misleading fliers are showing up on the windshields of vehicles at a predominately African-American polling place in Houston that claim to come from a non-existent group called the "Black Democratic Trust of Texas."

The fliers were placed on the windshields of vehicles at and near the Sunnyside Early Voting location and tell voters not to voter straight Democrat, according to Texas Democrats and local news reports.

"Republicans are trying to trick us!" the flier reads. "When you vote straight ticket Democrat, it is actually voting for Republicans and your vote doesn't count. We are urging everyone to VOTE for BILL WHITE. A VOTE for BILL WHITE is a VOTE for the ENTIRE DEMOCRATIC ticket. We have fought too hard to let Republicans use voting machines to deny us our basic rights. We must guard the change and NOT VOTE STRAIGHT TICKET DEMOCRAT!"

"YES WE CAN," the flier reads.




http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/fliers_from_fake_group_mislead_black_voters_in_texas_video.php?ref=fpb

^^this kind of bullshit makes me think they're more than a little bit scared

assholes

[Cognitive_Resonance]

10. The major newspapers in TX have endorsed White, a huge departure from past years. nt

[NoPasaran]

11. And we're seeing how much influence newspaper endorsements have, which is "not much"

At least not for the races at the top of the ticket. I think the average "low information" voter knows who they like for president or governor or senator, and no endorsement is going to sway them one way or the other. I believe endorsements may have more effect on down ballot races.

[Imajika]

12. Most Republicans don't give a damn...

...what the major newspapers think.

They believe most "news" is a giant liberal conspiracy anyway.

Seriously, this is a bright red state in a very Republican election cycle - there was never a real chance for even a great candidate like White to win this race.