http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3045575[/b]Poll says Perry doing good job but vulnerable[/b]
Though numbers are up, Hutchison still most popular of elected officials
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry's job-approval rating has rebounded to its highest level in three years, according to a new poll, and he is well-positioned to face potential re-election challenges in next year's Republican primary from either U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.
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The Scripps Howard Texas Poll found 51 percent of the Texans surveyed said Perry is doing a good job as governor while 33 percent disapprove of his job performance. That is in marked contrast to a year ago, when half the Texans surveyed disapproved of Perry as governor.
The poll also shows strength for Perry among his own partisans. Among Republicans, 73 percent approved of the job Perry is doing as governor.
"Obviously, from a Republican primary standpoint, it's good numbers," said Perry political director Luis Saenz. "Republicans approve, and we're pleased with that."
Hutchison's backing highBut Hutchison remains the most popular elected official in Texas, with 72 percent of those polled saying she is doing a good job in the Senate. Her job approval among Republicans was 85 percent.
Hutchison could make the case to Republican primary voters that she is a stronger candidate than Perry to put up against the Democrats in next year's general election. Hutchison also has not ruled out running for re-election next year.
More than 60 percent of the self-identified Democrats and Independents questioned had a positive view of Hutchison. By contrast, more Democrats and Independents had a negative view of Perry than positive.
"The poll summary states that Texans see Senator Hutchison as the most effective statewide elected official. That's gratifying," Hutchison spokesman David Beckwith said.
"The poll shows she could win any political contest she entered," Beckwith said.
Perry's other potential challenger, Strayhorn, has retained positive job-approval ratings in the survey, with 53 percent saying she is doing a good job and 16 percent disapproving. Her numbers are almost identical among Republicans, Democrats and Independents.
Strayhorn makes a nameThe poll indicates Strayhorn's biggest problem in taking on Perry is almost a third of those surveyed did not know enough about her to have an opinion. Her aides said that is because she changed her last name from Rylander to Strayhorn after remarrying before the 2003 legislative session.
"She has never been on the ballot as Carole Keeton Strayhorn, so we are absolutely delighted with these numbers," said spokesman Mark Sanders. "As people learn that Strayhorn is the same person as 'One Tough Grandma,' the numbers are coming up." Strayhorn billed herself as "One Tough Grandma" in previous elections.
The Scripps Howard Texas Poll survey of 1,000 adults was conducted Jan. 27-Feb. 14 by the Scripps Research Center and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.
The survey did not include potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates. Former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell has formed an exploratory committee.
The job-approval ratings may have been affected by a change in wording in the poll. In prior polls, respondents were asked whether an officeholder was doing an excellent/good job or a fair/poor job. This time they were asked to approve or disapprove of job performance.
The new poll found 61 percent of Texans approve of the job President Bush is doing while 33 percent disapprove. First lady Laura Bush received a positive rating from 81 percent of those surveyed.
Bush's re-election campaign carried the state with 61 percent of the vote last year.
Numbers are risingBush was Texas governor when he won election as president in 2000. When he resigned from office, then-Lt. Gov. Perry became governor. Perry won the office in the 2002 elections and has announced he will seek re-election next year.
Texans' opinions of Perry as governor fell through the floor during the 2002 election campaign as Democrat Tony Sanchez poured millions of dollars into negative television advertising against Perry.
Partisan battles over redistricting and state budget cuts further drove Perry's approval ratings down through 2004, with more Texans saying Perry was doing a bad job than good.
"Regardless of the poll numbers, the governor has always governed based on his philosophy," Saenz said, adding, "We are pleased that Texans are responding favorably and that his numbers are increasing."
The state's junior senator, John Cornyn, received a positive review from 49 percent of those questioned, but 35 percent did not respond.
Similarly, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick also received positive job-approval ratings.
