Gov.? ?Rick Perry of Texas is expected in the coming weeks to make a major political announcement concerning his political future -- but a poll released Monday finds he is increasingly in poor shape in the Lone Star State.?
Despite flopping badly when he ran for the Republican presidential nomination in? ?2012,? ?he has left the door open to running again in? ?2016.? ?Perry,? ?who took over in Austin when George W.? ?Bush moved to the White House in early? ?2001,? ?is the longest serving governor in Texas history and he could also run for another term in? ?2014.? ?But he could face a major primary challenge from state Attorney General Greg Abbott while former state GOP Chairman Tom Pauken is already in the race?
According to a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll released on Monday looking at the possible Republican presidential field,? ?Texas Republicans have a favorite son for? ?2016 -- but its not Perry.? ?Freshman U.S.? ?Sen.? ?Ted Cruz leads the Republican field in his home state with? ?25? ?percent followed by U.S.? ?Sen.? ?Rand Paul,? ?R-Ky.,? ?in second with? ?13? ?percent and U.S.? ?Sen.? ?Marco Rubio,? ?R-Fla.,? ?in third with? ?11? ?percent.?
While Cruz remains a favorite son of Texas Republicans,? ?the poll finds Perry in much worse shape.? ?If he makes a second bid for the Republican nomination,? ?Perry stands in fourth in his home state with? ?10? ?percent.? ?Gov.? ?Chris Christie of New Jersey and U.S.? ?Rep.? ?Paul Ryan of Wisconsin stand tied for fifth with? ?8? ?percent apiece.? ?Former U.S.? ?Sen.? ?Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Gov.? ?Bobby Jindal of Louisiana are far behind with? ?2? ?percent each.
Perry is in better shape for the Republican nomination if he runs again for governor in? ?2014 -- but even then he does not command the support of primary voters.? ?Perry takes? ?45? ?percent of Texas Republicans while Abbott commands the support of? ?19? ?percent while? ?11? ?percent they would support another candidate.? ?The rest remain undecided.?
But if Perry is in fair,? ?if not great,? ?shape to keep the Republican nomination,? ?he could be vulnerable in the general election.? ?Only? ?25? ?percent of Texas voters say they plan to back Perry in? ?2014? ?while? ?38? ?percent insist they will not support the governor if he runs again in? ?2014.?
With Perry planning to reveal his future plans in coming weeks,? ?its becoming increasingly apparent that he will not have much of a chance at the Republican presidential nomination after his disastrous performance last time out.? ?While Perry has some big wins under his belt,? ?including an impressive rout over then-U.S.? ?Sen.? ?Kay Bailey Hutchison in the? ?2010? ?Republican gubernatorial primaries,? ?his star is increasingly fading in Texas.? ?Even if he runs for governor again in? ?2014,? ?Perrys fate is far from certain.?
The poll of? ?1,200? ?Texas voters was taken from May? ?31-June? ?9? ?and had a margin of error of? ?+/-? ?2.83? ?percent.? ?The sample of? ?492? ?Republicans taken during the same period had a margin of error of? ?+/-? ?4.92? ?percent.?
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or? at 904-?521-3722.
