And now for something completely different: Rick Perry and Bill White are virtually tied in the race for governor, according to a poll done for Texas Watch by Republican pollster Hill Research Consultants.
Perry got 42 percent of the support to White's 41 percent; 14 percent were unsure and 3 percent said neither or refused to answer. The pollsters talked to 600 Texas voters from August 25 to 29; the poll's margin of error is +/- 4.0 percent.
That virtual tie differs from other recent polls. Just last week, Wilson Research Strategies, polling for GOPAC Texas, had Perry ahead by 12 percentage points, and the most recent poll from Rasmussen Reports gave the incumbent an advantage of 8 percentage points. The Wilson poll of 1,001 likely voters was done August 29 to 31 and had a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. Rasmussen's automated poll of 500 likely voters was done on August 22 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.
Texas Watch, a non-profit insurance watchdog group, found Perry ahead with independent voters and with people who are sympathetic to the Tea Party wave. On their own issues, they found that voters think insurance rates are too high and think the state's regulation of that industry favors insurers over the people who buy insurance. Most Texans — 84 percent — think the state's insurance commissioner should be elected rather than appointed, and 73 percent think companies should have to get the state's approval before rates can go up.
23 comments:
The insurance rate isn't gonna get better I'll tell you that, but even if it does go up I would like a notice of some kind,right? I mean whats that difference of them taking my money and saying that they need more cause its not enough. Personally I would vote for whoever that lowers insurance rates or any other rates for that matter.
I think it is way too early to start announcing a tie or a close victory. they could break away anytime and judging by previous elections i think it is about time that a bunny is fixing to be pulled out of the hat in Perry's favor. but on the flipside im pretty sure there might be a White hare for white, (pun intended)
Political races have become more and more close. In this case if it is a tie, then it must mean that the people want Perry just as much as White. What to do then? If our democratic society allows for the people's choice and this choice is pulled in two opposite directions at the same time, someone will have to compromise. The third paragraph mentions that voters think that insurers are being more favored more than people who buy insurance. Of course! There is always someone who gets the larger end of the stick in politics. There are a few rare cases when people agree peacefully and end up with absolutely everything they want. Politics is just a system where you have to learn to compromise and deal with what you get.
"...voters think that insurance rates are too high..." Hah. Well of course they do, apparently all things are priced too high. Aside from how the last paragraph is kind of redundant or silly, the rest of this article shows us a very important note: "virtual" polls are unreliable. When you take such a small sample, such as only 600 people, out of the entire population of Texas the data is going to be off. Also, all of these different polls held by different people are going to be polling different groups of the population aslo. So, first problem is small sample size. Second: population bias. In total, these errors arent surprising.
I think at this point, by what the polls show the race is anyone's game. They're both neck and neck and from what the article says, Perry was up by 12 percent last week and now they darn near tied, if he wants to win, he better step up his game. I think the people of Texas would like a change and Bill White is a change but if he wants to win, he has some more convincing to do.
That's so strange that both of the runners are so close together from the recent poll statistics. However, like what was shown in the post, one statistic alone doesn't apply for the state as a whole. All of those different polls had varying amount of people to vote in them and also differing margins of error. I say that no matter what the statistic is, we will never know the exact outcome until it happens. Also, as a side note, I REALLY like the monty python reference.
While Republicans, according to Gallup's Daily Tracking, are largely taking over the Democrats in midterm elections, it is interesting that in a primarily Republican state, a Democratic candidate is neck-in-neck with the current governor Rick Perry. This may point to a shift in Texas' citizens or could merely mean people are tired of Governor Perry. Plus Bill White has moderate viewpoints which can appeal to both parties.
Its pretty intense that its perry and white, neck and neck. To me it seems that perry will end up getting all the votes and winning the election because more college students have gone to college and graduated under the leadership of perry. the more college kids vote, the higher chance perry has in my opinion.
Texas might go blue?!?!?!?!?! I know that it's to early to know who will win but the fact that Democrats even have a chance is quite pleasing. It also had an interesting ending that i feel needs to be addressed by whoever gets elected.
I completly agree that Texas citizens should be able to choose the health commision governer due to the fact that right health policies suck big time and also it also makes sense for hm to be elected because then we are more likely get the health insurance we actually want/need. I know people who have been refused health insurance dude to certain disadvanteges and those people should get the health insurNce they deserve
WOW! This article is proof that elections are all about math! But I do agree with the comment about insurance rates being too high. We might as well save the money we spend on car insurance and life insurance our selves than have it mandatory that we pay the government for something we may not even use. It'd be interesting to see what changes were made if insurance commissioners were elected rather than appointed though.
I welcome this information. Having no political affiliation myself, (officially), I never really felt attached to any one candidate or party. Rick Perry has been governor for about as long as I've been caring about who's governor, so the fact that Bill White is presenting a respectable challenge (according to the major polls) is a welcome change. I'm not entirely sure about each candidate's stance on various issues, (frankly, I know nothing), but I like to see an underdog take down a big dog, and if that's what the polls predict then I'll keep an eye on it.
I think this is quite a good thing, there needs to be more diversity in more states in our nation so that one party doesn't get too comfortable. The people should keep both parties on their toes so that politicians will have to listen to what we want more so than ever.
Rick Perry has done a pretty good job as far as i know mr. white i dont know much about and since the polls are in a pretty close rang pretty hard to tell who though
It'll be very interesting to see how this all turns out. Also I agree with the 84% of Texans, I think that if the state's insurance commissioner is elected he/she will have the best interest of the people in mind.
Well, I suppose that's a bit of a surprise. With Texas' recent history, it's a bit of a shock that a Democrat is even TIED with a Republican. But I guess we'll have to wait for the true results when election time rolls around to see who will win in the end. It's been reported that Republicans (well, more Tea Party-ish Republicans anyway) have been (and are expected to continue) crushing Democrats across the country in the midterms. But that's nothing new. Doesn't the party of the President always lose votes during midterms of the first term? Think I heard that from Rachel Maddow (she's cool).
Umm so im completely confused me, to many numbers i guess, but what i gathered from it was the close number of votes? So if that's the case i wonder if there's ever been an event in which their was a tie in the votes what happens then? Then those other twenty percent that didn't decide or refused to vote are they just pressured to vote?
I think Perry is too comfortable and should seriously consider White as a threat. If this poll is correct, then that confirms the fact that many are fed up with Perry's favoritism and other antics. Some independents who had previously voted Republican may find themselves leaning in the opposite direction, and lose Perry his tens of thousands of dollars for daily living expenses. Unless Perry does something to improve his campaign, Texans may be ready for change- for good or ill.
This election should definitely be interesting, especially with the various view points on health insurance and taxes. I wonder who will win?
Well, this is interesting. Campaigns are always heaty and heavy, but this looks big. Not only are they neck and neck, but they have the eyes of several people. (Thank you Mtv for making politics and voting cool).
Also, duh people think insurance is high.
With no information on either candidate or their views on political issues, I am gonna put my money on Perry. So will many of Texas' youth, who really don't know or don't care, for the same reason I would vote, because he has been there so long. Although a tie race like this could very interesting.
Texas is better off economically than many states, many people vote based on economics. If people dont like the current status they tend to get rid of the guy in charge. It seems to me that somebody must like what he is doing for them to be interested in keeping Rick Perry around.
Personally the insurance commissioner should be elected so that people know what payments they'll be accounted for instead of the insurance commissioner appointed and not actually chosen by the people of Texas.
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