Reply #7: Here's more on this story from the Dallas News

[Judi Lynn]

Texas Poll: 50% disapprove of Perry

Support at new low; governor, wife blast marital rumors


10:06 PM CST on Friday, March 5, 2004


By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News



AUSTIN ­ Gov. Rick Perry's job approval rating has tumbled to its lowest point in his administration, with half of Texans surveyed in a new poll saying they don't like the job he's doing.

Fifty percent of the respondents in the Winter 2004 Texas Poll released Friday said they believed the governor was doing poorly, while 40 percent said they believed Mr. Perry was doing well – a 27-point drop in his approval since November 2001. Ten percent either had no opinion or gave no answer.

The poll was released, coincidentally, on the day Mr. Perry publicly denounced rumors that his marriage was in trouble, that his wife, Anita, was filing for divorce and that he was leaving office.
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Political observers, including those in his own party, said they believe the governor's poor poll numbers are based on a year of bitter, rancorous fights over redistricting and balancing a $9.9 billion deficit by cutting social services and teachers' benefits, raising fees and allowing large hikes in college tuition.
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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/030604dntexperry.a43e.html
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