Rick Perry Poll Shows Little Support For Reelection, But A Lead In 2014 Primary Matchup

Texans are more likely to say they'd vote against Gov. Rick Perry (R) than for him if he runs for reelection in 2014, according to an online UT-Austin/Texas Tribune survey released Monday.

Just 26 percent said they would vote for Perry, compared to the 36 percent that said they'd vote against him. The rest said they were unsure, or that they'd need to wait and see who is running against him.

While the wording of the question is a somewhat unusual way of gauging a politician's chances at reelection, the results are in line with a survey from Democratic pollsters PPP that found most voters, including a healthy percentage of Republicans, don't want Perry to run again.

The two polls differed, however, in how Perry would fare against one possible primary challenger, Attorney General Greg Abbott.

PPP found Perry 6 points ahead, while the UT-Austin/Texas Tribune survey gave him a far healthier 32-point lead.

The UT poll gives Perry a 41 percent favorable rating, putting him just slightly above President Obama in the state's esteem. Nearly three quarters of Republicans gave Perry a thumbs up.

The poll surveyed 1,200 adults, including 549 Republicans, between Feb. 15 and 24.