Poll shows surprising strength by Tea Party's Debra Medina in GOP race for Texas governor

The Los Angeles Times ^ | February 9, 2010 | Mark Z. Barabak

[Clintonfatigued]

Nobody -- well, hardly anybody outside perhaps the Medina household -- expects the small business owner and anti-Washington crusader to be the next governor of Texas. Heck, until recently she wasn’t even much of a factor in the shoot-'em-up between the two leviathans of Lone Star politics, Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Then again, up until a couple of weeks out, nobody thought Brown -- a little-known state senator and ex-Cosmo model -- stood much chance of swiping the Massachusetts Senate seat held for almost a quarter century by the late Edward M. Kennedy. That said, a poll out Tuesday is raising eyebrows all over Texas.

The survey by Public Policy Polling showed Perry leading the GOP field with 39%, followed by Hutchison at 28% and Medina -- a favorite of the Tea Party crowd -- at 24%.

More significant, among self-identified conservatives -- those most likely to turn out in the March 2 primary -- Perry had 42% support to Medina’s 25% and Hutchison’s 23%.

Given the survey’s 4.8% margin of error, Hutchison, long considered the most popular politician in Texas, is effectively tied with the little-known, meagerly funded Medina.

[Clintonfatigued]

Libertarian candidate ping.

[Clintonfatigued]

The Tea Party movement and Ron Paul supporters are rallying around Medina’s campaign. Texas deserves choices other than RINO Hutchison and Big Government Conservative Perry.

[RightOnline]

Perry’s an able Governor and a good guy.....he wins this one hands down.

[Conservative4Ever]

Heard Medina interviewed on Mike Church show...I liked what she had to say.

[Secret Agent Man]

OF the three, Medina is the most conservative. Appears so far to be genuine.

[Bhoy]

OK Texas — what do you think? Give me a clue who to send the $$ to.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Ping

Freepmail me or ping me from the original thread to get on/off the 2010 Texas Governor's Race ping list.

[RatsDawg]

Perry is a big government former Democrat. Medina would be who I would vote for if I lived in Texas.

[omegabea]

Medina getting into the runoff will energize challengers across the entire nation and alert voters to the realization that now is the time to replace all the career politicians from dog catcher to U.S. Senator.

Medina winning the election and setting about replacing property taxes and exercising state sovereignty will lead the nation into prosperity. I think it's a good use of your funds. Thanks for getting on the band wagon. Let us know if we can help out your way.

[Kimmers]

I live in TX and she has my vote, if I were a Demorat I would cast a vote in your name as well as my own.....

[Lesforlife]

Perry signed Executive order requiring young girls
to take mandatory Gardasil vaccine to stay in school,
as I recall.
Conservative?

[Newton]

Can't wait for the primary so I can vote Medina!

As a mother of an eight year old girl pecos perry pi$$ed me off when he made gardisil mandatory (just try and make me get that vaccine for my daughter!) and kay bailout is a washington hack.

[TexMom7]

Another Texan voting for Medina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lonestar]

I would love it if KBH came in last.

[sportutegrl]

I no longer live in Texas so i don’t have a dog in this fight, but I will never forgive Perry for trying to shove that HPV vaccine on the girls.

[Britt0n]

My husband, mother, father and I will all be voting for Debra!

[achilles2000]

Medina - an easy choice.

[Pantera]

This 10th amendment supporter will vote for medina without hesitation. Check out her interview here: texas.tenthamendmentcenter.com.

[pissant]

Pecos Perry? LOL. I call him Romney in Cowboy boots.