TEXAS: IS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY IN TROUBLE?

Public Policy Polling is reporting that incumbent Texas Governor Rick Perry is finding himself tied with Democratic challenger and former mayor of Houston, Bill White. On one hand, this is mildy shocking because Texas is a conservative state and Perry is an established Republican who talked tough before his primary with Kay Bailey Hutchison. He made national news championing the Tea Parties, even aligning with them against the Feds. Now that he has the nomination, that sort of talk is conspicuously absent.

In fact, Texans may already be viewing Perry as part of the establishment.

Via Public Policy:

One of the biggest questions about the 2010 election cycle, which we still don't really know the answer to, is whether it will be solely an anti-Democratic year or more broadly an anti-incumbent year. Our newest Texas poll would seem to suggest voter fatigue toward long serving politicians in both parties- Republican Governor Rick Perry is now tied at 43 with Democratic challenger Bill White.

The solution to this problem for Perry is actually very simple. All he has to do is look two states over to his west and follow Jan Brewer's lead. She's already built the model and it includes taking a stand on illegal immigration and actually DOING what Perry talked about before his primary - standing up to the Federal government. Once Perry won his primary, he became the anti-Brewer.

Perry is in this position for one very simple reason - political cowardice.

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