Almost snuck those poll numbers past me

Though I expect he'll get a bounce from his activities relating to Katrina evacuees, Governor Perry's poll numbers stink.

If the 2006 primary were held today, 46 percent of Republican voters would support Mr. Perry, compared with 28 percent for Mrs. Strayhorn. Nearly one-quarter are undecided. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

[...]

The Perry camp said poll results will fluctuate, but the governor is focused on doing his job. Mr. Perry has a 55 percent positive job-approval rating among Republicans and a 30 percent negative rating.

Among all voters, though, Mr. Perry's job approval has fallen to 39 percent, down 12 points from six months ago. The governor has been unsuccessful in getting the Legislature to lower property taxes and change the state's system of funding education.

The Texas Poll is quarterly, as I recall. Note that the SurveyUSA results from July track these more recent number pretty closely. And let me say again - Fifty-five percent approval among Republicans? That just ain't good for a guy who lives and breathes on his base.

Other tidbits:

Meanwhile, 54 percent of Democratic primary voters are undecided on whom to support in the March contest. Sixteen percent support former Comptroller John Sharp, who has not said whether he's running, and 10 percent favor former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell. Eight percent would vote for Felix Alvarado, an assistant principal in Fort Worth, and 12 percent support various other candidates.

The high undecided number may be a function of the relative scarcity of coverage on this side of the equation. I'm almost ready for Sharp to get off the pot just so that the media would have something to talk about besides the Rick 'n' Carole Show.

How Texans rate some other politicians' job performance in a new Texas poll:

52% approve of President Bush's work, his lowest mark in Texas since he became president (43 percent disapprove).

Think it'll get national attention if Bush drops below 50% approval in Texas?

25% approve of state House Speaker Tom Craddick's performance (29 percent disapproved, 46 percent didn't have an opinion).

23% approve of the Legislature's work (65 percent disapprove).

One word - Ouch.

64% approve of U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's performance, as she continues her reign as the state's most popular elected official (19 percent disapprove).

42% approve of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's job performance (21 percent disapprove).

Going back to SurveyUSA for a minute, both Senators do better in the Texas poll than in SUSA's. Cornyn's approval number is almost the same, but his disapproval number is 36% in SUSA. Make of that what you will.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 08, 2005 to Election 2006 | TrackBack