Texas Hold 'Em

The latest PPP poll has Texas GOP Gov. Rick Perry and former Houston Dem Mayor Bill White tied for TX-Gov.

The poll has Perry and White at 43% each. The survey of registered voters has a ±4.4% margin of error. A key indicator of Perry's vulnerability is that his approval rating is only 36%, with 49% disapproval, while White has a favorable rating of 37%-25%. In the horserace cross-tabs, Perry leads among Republicans by 74%-15%, White leads among Democrats by 76%-10%, and White leads with independents by 42%-36%.

The TPM Poll Average has Perry ahead of White by 46.1%-40.8%.

Another important number, which should concern Perry in light of his growing national profile as a leader among Tea Party-style Republicans, is this question: "Do you think that Rick Perry should run for President in 2012?" The answer is only Yes 10%, No 69%.

"Things look promising for White but Texas is still a conservative state where Barack Obama is exceedingly unpopular and that could end up proving to be too much for him to overcome," writes PPP communications director Tom Jensen. "It may end up that White is the right candidate just running in the wrong cycle. But for now this looks like a surprisingly strong opportunity for Democrats and a race that could certainly end up as one of the most closely watched in the country."

The fact that White is even close should be scaring the hell out of Perry.   Even going by the averages, White's only down by 5 points.

I wonder how much of the Texas GOP platform Rick Perry supports?  The criminalization of sodomy, the rounding up of illegal immigrants, the rejection of evolution...that can't put him in a good situation should White press Perry on that.  It's not like Perry can denounce it...it's his own party's state platform, and he's the Governor.

Should be interesting going forward.