| Tom Schieffer, Ambassador to Japan and Australia during the presidency of George W. Bush, trails in a head to head gubernatorial match with Governor Rick Perry and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Schieffer has recently floated the prospect of running for governor as a Democrat.
According to Public Policy Polling:
Hutchison leads Schieffer 54-30 while Perry has a 45-35 advantage over him, below the magic 50% number considered safe for incumbents.
Perry's disapproval/approval rate is at 48%-41%, so it's not surprising that Schieffer keeps Perry below the 50% mark. Just confirms what many of us thought already---Good Hair is vulnerable. But these poll results also demonstrate what many of us have speculated for quite some time too-- Hutchison is the most formidable candidate to beat in both the Republican primary, and, should she make it that far, the general election for governor.
Any Democrat, let alone one so incredibly close to the tainted presidency of George W. Bush, has a climb ahead of them with wind in their face. These polls don't tell us anything we didn't already know in that regard. But Governor Perry, at least in the GOP primary, has a steep climb himself. I have never believed that it is a given that Hutchison wins the Republican primary so there is still a chance that Perry makes it through, which gives Democrats the best shot of winning.
No other individual outside of Kinky Friedman has declared as a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor. Besides Schieffer, Senator Leticia Van de Putte has been floated as a possible candidate for Democrats.
Folks that I've talked with in Tarrant County have said that it is not a matter of "if" but "when" Schieffer declares at this point. He has a hell of a lot of work to do lining up support in our own primary considering his his history with former President Bush. He'll have to explain that himself. Van de Putte, not considered in the PPP poll, would have work to do in gaining name recognition and proving fundraising prowess. It would have been nice to see how Van de Putte shaped up against the GOP field too. I'm not sure why PPP didn't poll her along with Schieffer considering neither one has declared.
In short, we're behind and Republicans are ahead. Feels like Groundhog Day.
Additional thoughts on the poll? |
