Perry's poll numbers slip in Texas after presidential bid

By: Rebecca Kaplan
Topics: Campaign 2012 ,; State Politics

Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry pauses while announcing he is suspending his campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, in North Charleston, S.C.

(Credit: AP Photo/David Goldman)

An ill-fated bid for the presidency has not only taken a toll on Texas Gov. Rick Perry's own popularity, it's also worsened the outlook for another gubernatorial campaign he may yet pursue, according to a new poll by several Texas newspapers.

Perry's popularity in his home state dropped 10 points in the past year to settle at 40 percent, a full three points below that of President Obama statewide. And 37 percent of people say that they have a less favorable view of Perry after a campaign filled with embarrassing stumbles on the national stage, like the time he famously failed to name a third federal department he would cut during a debate in early November.

In worse news for Perry, more than half of people - 53 percent - say he should not run for another term as governor in 2014 (Texas has no term limits). The Dallas Morning News notes that his support for another gubernatorial bid is especially weak among three key voting blocs: people 50 and older, with incomes over $100,000 and with advanced or professional degrees.

Campaign communications director Ray Sullivan noted to the Morning News that Perry has faced bad poll numbers before - particularly during the 2010 governor's race, when he trailed opponent Kay Bailey Hutchison badly entering the race only to win the primary by a significant margin and then handily beat his Democratic opponent, Bill White.

"Governor Perry remains strongly and conservatively at the helm of Texas state government and may well run for re-election in 2014," he told the paper.

The poll was conducted by Blum & Weprin Associates Inc. of New York. The firm surveyed 806 adults (including 669 registered voters) in Texas Saturday through Tuesday. The sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points among adults and plus or minus 3.8 percentage points among registered voters.

Rebecca Kaplan
Rebecca Kaplan covers the 2012 presidential campaign for CBS News and National Journal.
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by lleidwinger January 26, 2012 7:36 PM EST: Come on y'all. We know the difference between a Rocky Mountain oyster and a football!; Reply to this comment

by baileyccc January 26, 2012 6:26 PM EST

Perry's a Loser and he's not what he appears to be.

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by Former_Marine_Sgt January 26, 2012 7:22 PM EST: It took a failed 'God told me to' Run for the Presidency to get the folks in Texas to see who and what he really is.

by jeannettelj January 26, 2012 5:43 PM EST

I live in AZ and thought that with jan Brewer as governor it was the worst state possible, but I think that Texas has us beat!!

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by abby_del_abbey January 26, 2012 6:11 PM EST: Gov Good Hair Perry is not liked by a good many people in Texas, but there is a well-oiled, oops! well-financed, group that keeps him in office. Perry is also collecting a retirement pension as a state worker although he is governor because of a loop hole.

by longtree-2009 January 26, 2012 5:43 PM EST

texans were wrong to have elected perry in the first place. with the national exposure perry received as a candidate, it should doom perry from ever being elected into public office. he is not qualified, not even for dog catcher much less governor of the great state of Texas.

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by retiredgustav January 26, 2012 6:50 PM EST: He keeps getting elected because too many citizens of Texas won't get off thier butts and vote. In the last election for Texas governor ONLY 32% turned out to vote. "Bad laws are made by Bad politicians who get elected by ood people who don't vote."

by norcalruss January 26, 2012 5:09 PM EST

No real news here. Most of the people in Texas, like the rest of the nation, realize that Perry is an idiot.

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by Lawyers-Guns-n-Money06 January 26, 2012 5:26 PM EST: Texas voters seem to be a bit slow on the uptake.


by A_Canadian_Opinion January 26, 2012 5:04 PM EST: Reminds me of that scene in Independence Day, where they pompously decide to nuke the aliens, then quickly realize that the nukes aren't that effective against superior beings.; Reply to this comment


by Farver4girls January 26, 2012 4:51 PM EST: Perry made a fool of himself running during the debate. Who would want a man who can't articulate well to be president? He won't be able to speak to foreign ambassadors properly. He would almost as embarrassing as George W. Bush when he said the Spanish people that they spoke "Mexican" there too.; Reply to this comment


by stevex47 January 26, 2012 4:51 PM EST: To get his numbers up, evidently, all he has to do is divorce a few times, hitch up with some open marriage bimbo, and get thrown out for ethics violations.

The teapublican way to success !; Reply to this comment


by Raptorsmasher January 26, 2012 4:21 PM EST: It's about time Texas saw the obvious.; Reply to this comment

by pr_boxer January 26, 2012 4:14 PM EST

It's very surprising his poll numbers are in the positive. Of course that's Texas, not a lot of literate people there.

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by lilylongflower January 26, 2012 5:19 PM EST: texas in general is a hell hole of ignorance and mean spirited bigotry, take a look at their list of elected officials and you'll see what i mean. feel sorry for the progressive few that find themselves there.