Raleigh, N.C. –
Texas voters- even Republicans- have had enough of Rick Perry. PPP’s newest
poll finds that only 31% of voters think Perry should seek reelection next
year, compared to 62% who think it’s time for him to step aside. He’s among the
most unpopular Governors in the country, with only 41% of voters approving of
him to 54% who disapprove.
Perry could face great peril in a primary challenge next year. Only 41% of
GOP primary voters want him to be their candidate again, compared to 47% who
think it’s time for someone else. And in a head to head match up with Attorney
General Greg Abbott, Perry leads by only a 41/38 margin.
If Abbott ends up being the Republican nominee for Governor next year, the
party’s 20 year lock on that office in Texas should be pretty safe. We find him
up 7-12 points against all the Democrats we tested- 46/39 over 2010 nominee
Bill White, 46/36 over San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, 46/34 over State
Senator Wendy Davis, and 47/35 over Houston Mayor Annise Parker.
Democrats, however, would have a better than normal chance at winning the
Governor’s office if Perry did somehow make it through to be the nominee for
another term. We find White actually slightly ahead of him at 47/44. And
although Perry leads Castro (47/42), Davis (47/41), and Parker (47/40) the
margins are all a good deal narrower than they are for Abbott against the same
foes.
There’s been some speculation recently that Perry might be interested in
making another bid for the White House. But only 14% of Texans think Perry
should run again, to 79% who are opposed to the idea.
“Most Texas voters are ready to move on from Rick Perry,” said Dean Debnam,
President of Public Policy Polling. “They think it’s time for a new Governor.”
PPP surveyed 500
Texas voters and an oversample of 400 Republican primary voters from January 24th
to 27th. The margin of error for the overall sample is +/-4.4% and +/-4.9% for
the GOP portion. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political
organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
General Election Toplines
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Rick Perry’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .41%
Disapprove…………. .54%
Not sure …………….. . 6%
Q2 Do you think Rick Perry should run for reelection
as Governor next year, or not?
He should…………… .31%
He should not……… .62%
Not sure …………….. . 7%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Greg Abbott?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 24%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 44%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Julian Castro?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 29%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 24%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Wendy Davis?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 15%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 19%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 66%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Annise Parker?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 16%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 17%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 67%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Bill White?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 24%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q8 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Republican Rick Perry and Democrat Julian
Castro, who would you vote for?
Rick Perry ………………………………………………. 47%
Julian Castro…………………………………………… 42%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q9 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Republican Rick Perry and Democrat Wendy
Davis, who would you vote for?
Rick Perry ………………………………………………. 47%
Wendy Davis…………………………………………… 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q10 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Republican Rick Perry and Democrat Annise
Parker, who would you vote for?
Rick Perry ………………………………………………. 47%
Annise Parker …………………………………………. 40%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q11 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Republican Rick Perry and Democrat Bill
White, who would you vote for?
Rick Perry ………………………………………………. 44%
Bill White………………………………………………… 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q12 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Julian
Castro, who would you vote for?
Greg Abbott ……………………………………………. 46%
Julian Castro…………………………………………… 36%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q13 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy
Davis, who would you vote for?
Greg Abbott ……………………………………………. 46%
Wendy Davis…………………………………………… 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q14 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Annise
Parker, who would you vote for?
Greg Abbott ……………………………………………. 47%
Annise Parker …………………………………………. 35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 18%
Q15 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Bill
White, who would you vote for?
Greg Abbott ……………………………………………. 46%
Bill White………………………………………………… 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q16 Do you think Rick Perry should run for
President in 2016, or not?
He should……………………………………………….. 14%
He should not………………………………………….. 79%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 8%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 15%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 22%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 25%
Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 56%
Man……………………………………………………….. 44%
Q19 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 32%
Republican……………………………………………… 43%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 25%
Q20 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 19%
White …………………………………………………….. 62%
African-American …………………………………….. 13%
Other……………………………………………………… 7%
Q21 If you are 18 to 45 years old, press 1. If 46 to
65, press 2. If you are older than 65, press 3.
18 to 45………………………………………………….. 30%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 48%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%
Republican Primary Toplines
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor
Rick Perry’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .62%
Disapprove…………. .29%
Not sure …………….. . 9%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Greg Abbott?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 46%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 41%
Q3 If the candidates for Governor next year were
Greg Abbott and Rick Perry, who would you
vote for?
Greg Abbott ……………………………………………. 38%
Rick Perry ………………………………………………. 41%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 20%
Q4 Generally speaking, would you like the
Republican candidate for Governor next year to
be Rick Perry or someone else?
Rick Perry ………………………………………………. 41%
Someone else…………………………………………. 47%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q5 Given the choices of Susan Combs, David
Dewhurst, Dan Patrick, Jerry Patterson, and
Todd Staples, who would you most like to see
as the Republican candidate for Lieutenant
Governor next year?
Susan Combs …………………………………………. 18%
David Dewhurst ………………………………………. 37%
Dan Patrick …………………………………………….. 12%
Jerry Patterson ……………………………………….. 2%
Todd Staples…………………………………………… 4%
Someone else/Not sure ……………………………. 26%
Q6 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 2%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 5%
Moderate………………………………………………… 15%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 34%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 42%
Q7 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q8 If you are 18 to 45years old, press 1. If 46 to
65, press 2. If you are older than 65, press 3.
18 to 45………………………………………………….. 33%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 26%
