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Photo: David Goldman / Associated Press Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Image 2 of 12 Soon after announcing his campaign run, Perry was pushed to the top in September's polls. Soon after announcing his campaign run, Perry was pushed to the top in September's polls. Photo: JERRY LARA / San Antonio Express-News Image 3 of 12 Perry received some criticism after it became known that he “retired” in 2011, and started collecting pension benefits. Perry received some criticism after it became known that he “retired” in 2011, and started collecting pension benefits. Photo: David Goldman / Associated Press Image 4 of 12 In November, Perry tried to get more support from conservative Christian voters in Iowa by signing a pledge to oppose gay marriage. It didn't work. In November, Perry tried to get more support from conservative Christian voters in Iowa by signing a pledge to oppose gay marriage. It didn't work. Photo: Eric Gay / Associated Press Image 5 of 12 Image 6 of 12 At a November 2011 town hall meeting in Goffstown, N.H., Perry got both the election date and voting age wrong when talking to university students. At a November 2011 town hall meeting in Goffstown, N.H., Perry got both the election date and voting age wrong when talking to university students. Photo: David Goldman / Associated Press Image 7 of 12 Perry's numerous stumbles on the debate stage caused supporters to question if he was ready for Washington. Perry's numerous stumbles on the debate stage caused supporters to question if he was ready for Washington. Photo: Charles Krupa / Associated Press Image 8 of 12 "Oops!" The mistake heard across the country as Perry failed to name one of the federal agencies he would eliminate if elected. "Oops!" The mistake heard across the country as Perry failed to name one of the federal agencies he would eliminate if elected. Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP/Getty Images Image 9 of 12 In a New Hampshire GOP debate, Perry said he would send troops back to Iraq, drawing criticism. In a New Hampshire GOP debate, Perry said he would send troops back to Iraq, drawing criticism. Photo: David Goldman / Associated Press Image 10 of 12 Image 11 of 12 Perry announced the end of his candidacy in North Charleston, S.C. on Jan. 19. Perry announced the end of his candidacy in North Charleston, S.C. on Jan. 19. Photo: David Goldman / Associated Press Image 12 of 12 Poll finds Perry’s ratings sink to all-time low in Texas 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

﻿By Peggy Fikac, Staff Writer

AUSTIN — In the wake of his fumbling presidential run, Gov. Rick Perry’s job approval level has sunk below President Barack Obama’s among Texans and more than half think the Republican shouldn’t run for re-election, according to a new poll by a consortium of newspapers including the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News.

“Rick Perry didn’t just not do well in his presidential campaign, but he didn’t do himself any favors at home,” said Micheline Blum, director of the poll conducted Jan. 21-24 by Blum & Weprin Associates Inc.

Among Texas adults surveyed, 40 percent approved and an equal percentage disapproved of Perry’s job performance.

Obama had both a higher job-approval level at 43 percent and higher disapproval at 47 percent in this red state.

Looking only at registered voters, Perry’s 42 job approval rating was 1 percentage point higher than Obama’s, and his disapproval was 43 percent compared with 50 percent for the president.

The figures represent Perry’s lowest-ever job-approval level, Blum said Wednesday.

The telephone poll of a random sample of 806 Texas adults included 669 registered voters. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for the 806 adults, and plus or minus 3.8 percentage points for the registered voters.

Among the registered voters, 56 percent said Perry shouldn’t run for re-election in 2014. Forty-one percent of registered voters had a less favorable view of Perry due to his presidential run.

Effect on state’s image

A combined 48 percent of registered voters said Perry’s presidential run had tarnished Texas’ image either a little bit (25 percent) or a lot (23 percent).

“I think once again, Jay Leno and everybody, it gave them another opportunity to say, ‘Oh, the doofus from Texas,’ like they did with George Bush,” said Mary Metzger, 69, a Republican and retired school administrator in Houston.

The poll reflected a 10 percentage point drop in Perry’s job-approval level among Texas adults since January 2011.

Significantly, his approval has fallen from 73 percent to 60 percent among Republicans, Blum said, and from 46 percent to 29 percent among independents.

Blum and Mark Jones, Rice University professor of political science, noted that could make the GOP establishment and potential challengers take notice.

The loss of support among a swing group of voters “is the difference between a safe, relatively easy re-election bid and a hard-fought contest and the potential of losing against a strong Democratic competitive. It’s those sorts of numbers that worry a lot of people in the Republican establishment,” Jones said.

Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan, noting that Perry has defied polls before, said the governor may well run for re-election in 2014 and also try again for the White House in 2016, “especially if President Obama somehow wins a second term.”

Perry showcased Texas’ jobs record and fiscal responsibility on the presidential campaign trail, putting it in a good light, Sullivan said.

“Governor Perry leads based on his conservative philosophy and what is best for Texas jobs and quality of life, not poll numbers,” Sullivan said.

The poll also looked at leading GOP presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, neither of whom seemed to spark great enthusiasm, Blum noted.

Among all adults surveyed, 34 percent had a favorable opinion of Gingrich, while 37 percent had an unfavorable opinion of him. For Romney, 28 percent had a favorable opinion and 39 percent an unfavorable opinion. More than a quarter were unsure.

Among Republicans, 59.4 percent had a favorable opinion of Gingrich but not even half — 45.9 percent — had a favorable opinion of Romney.

Perry’s high-water mark for job approval was in March 2002, according to Blum’s figures, when 65 percent of registered voters approved and 14 percent disapproved of his job performance. His previous lowest job approval was 44 percent among registered voters in September 2010.

Across-the-board hit

Blum noted that Perry’s approval rating was hurt “among pretty much every group.”

Matthew Caldwell, 29, who works in construction, said he’s not sure whether Perry should run again but that he likely wouldn’t vote for him. He described himself as a GOP-leaning independent and tea party member.

“I would like to see somebody else. It’s kind of like driving a new vehicle. You drive it for a while, and that ‘new’ wears off,” said Caldwell of Alvin. “Governor Perry has had a great run here, a long run … it’s somebody else’s opportunity to step up and make some changes.”



