One survey commissioned by the Democratic-leaning consumer group Texas Watch showed Perry leading 43 percent to White's 42 percent, a tie within the margin of error. The other poll, commissioned by Democratic philanthropist Bernard Rapoport, had Perry leading 44.4 percent to White's 40.6 percent, a slight lead for the governor.

However, both polls were done in the days after the Democratic Back to Basics PAC ran ads in 24 papers Aug. 24 calling Perry a "Coward" for refusing to debate White. The ad also generated widespread TV news coverage.

The Texas Watch survey also focused on voters views on homeowner insurance reform at the same time White was unveiling his homeowner insurance reform plan.

Despite heavy television advertising in July and August, White has remained in the low 40s of most public opinion polls that have been released. Perry has fluctuated between the mid-40s and 50 percent in those surveys. Perry has done no television advertising, but Back to Basics has run several commercials critical of Perry.

"The Coward ad did have some impact," said Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson. "Perry has yet to throw his heavy blows."

The Texas Watch poll was conducted by Hill Research Consultants of The Woodlands, a Republican firm. The survey of 600 registered voters was done Aug. 25-29 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The survey found 73 percent of Texas voters favor insurance reform requiring companies to obtain prior approval from state regulators before raising rates, a reform promoted by White. Currently, companies can raise rates that are subject to state review, and some companies have refused to lower rates when told to do so.

The Rapoport survey of 803 likely voters was conducted Aug. 24-28 by Zogby International and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

The Zogby survey also asked voters whether Perry deserves to be re-elected or if it's time for somebody new. Fifty-one percent said it is time for someone new, including 77 percent of the Democrats and half of the independents.

Spokesmen for both White and Perry said the only poll that matters is Election Day. When asked about the surveys, Perry said: "I just stay focused on the work at hand, and I have a very good feeling about where we are in the campaign."

Perry's campaign in the past several days has been hammering White for not paying federal income taxes in 1995. Spokesman Mark Miner said White's federal salary would have been $133,000 in 1995.

White spokeswoman Katy Bacon said White left the energy department in 1995 to start an energy company. Because he was investing in a new company, she said White had no "taxable income" in 1995 and received an income tax refund of $24,200. Bacon said Perry is attacking White on his income taxes to avoid talking about the state's $18 billion revenue shortfall.

rg.ratcliffe@chron.com