Raleigh, N.C. – In the wake of his failed presidential bid, Texas voters say they would vote for someone else instead of Rick Perry if he ran for reelection as Governor in 2014. A full 62% of voters say they would prefer someone else over Perry, with just 32% saying they would support Perry and only 5% unsure. 68% of independents and 37% of Republicans indicated they would support someone else over Perry.
“Texans’ esteem for Rick Perry has dropped considerably in the aftermath of his disastrous presidential bid,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “He’s got some work to do if he plans on running for office again in Texas.”
While a majority of voters in Texas say same-sex marriage should be illegal – 57% say it should be illegal, just 29% say legal – interestingly enough a majority consensus also emerges in favor of legal recognition of gay couples when the question includes whether civil unions should be allowed. 25% of voters say gay couples should be “allowed to legally marry” and 34% say “gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry” for a total of 59% in favor of some legal recognition of gay couples.
The University of Texas comes out as the state’s most popular institution of higher learning, with 23% citing the school they are a fan of, compared to 14% for Texas A&M, 10% for Baylor, 8% for Houston, 7% for Texas Tech, 6% for TCU, 3% for Southern Methodist, 2% for UTEP, and 27% saying they’re a fan of another school or they’re not sure.
Finally, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is unpopular in the state, with 48% of voters saying they have an unfavorable opinion of him and just 14% holding a favorable one. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is far more popular. Tim Tebow also has better numbers in the state than Baylor Heisman Trophy winning Quarterback Robert Griffin III.
PPP surveyed 700 Texas voters from January 12th to 15th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.7%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Kay
Bailey Hutchison’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .45%
Disapprove…………. .37%
Not sure …………….. .18%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator John
Cornyn’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .42%
Disapprove…………. .35%
Not sure …………….. .23%
Q3 Do you have a more favorable opinion of Craig
James or Mike Leach?
Craig James……………………………………………. 14%
Mike Leach …………………………………………….. 14%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 72%
Q4 If Rick Perry ran for re-election as Governor in
2014, would you support him, or would you
prefer someone else?
Would support Perry ………………………………… 32%
Would prefer someone else ………………………. 62%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q5 Do you think same-sex marriage should be
legal or illegal?
Legal …………………. .29%
Illegal ………………… .57%
Not sure …………….. .14%
Q6 Which of the following best describes your
opinion on gay marriage: gay couples should
be allowed to legally marry, or gay couples
should be allowed to form civil unions but not
legally marry, or there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple’s relationship?
Gay couples should
be allowed to legally
marry…………………..25%
Gay couples should
be allowed to form
civil unions but not
marry…………………..34%
There should be no
legal recognition of
a gay couple’s
relationship ………….38%
Not sure …………….. . 4%
Q7 Are you a fan of Baylor, Houston, Southern
Methodist, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas
Tech, UTEP, or another school?
Baylor………………… .10%
Houston …………….. . 8%
Southern Methodist . 3%
Texas ………………… .23%
Texas A & M……….. .14%
TCU ………………….. . 6%
Texas Tech…………. . 7%
UTEP………………… . 2%
Another school/Not
a fan……………………27%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jerry Jones?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 14%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 48%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 38%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mark Cuban?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 29%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 42%
Q10 Do you have a higher opinion of Jerry Jones or
Mark Cuban?
Jerry Jones …………………………………………….. 22%
Mark Cuban ……………………………………………. 34%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 44%
Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tim Tebow?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 55%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 11%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 34%
Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Robert Griffin III?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 32%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 4%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 64%
Q13 Do you have a higher opinion of Tim Tebow or
Robert Griffin III?
Tim Tebow ……………………………………………… 41%
Robert Griffin III ………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 44%
Q14 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 51%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 40%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%
Q15 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 9%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 16%
Moderate………………………………………………… 26%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 25%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 24%
Q16 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 56%
Man……………………………………………………….. 44%
Q17 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 ……………………………………………….. 34%
Republican……………………………………………… 40%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 27%
Q18 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 18%
White …………………………………………………….. 65%
African-American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q19 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 26%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 39%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 23%
