Perry Leads Hutchison in GOP Primary, but Hutchison Runs Stronger Against Dems

However, Hutchison runs better when voters are asked if they would support her or Perry against an unnamed Democratic candidate. Hutchison leads a Democrat, 36 percent to 25 percent, with 9 percent preferring a third-party candidate and 30 percent undecided. Perry is in a statistical tie with a Democrat at 34 percent to 33 percent, with 8 percent preferring a third-party candidate and 24 percent undecided. She also runs better than Perry when matched against specific Democratic names.

On the Democratic side, results are more scattered when the poll tests actual candidates.

Kinky Friedman, the offbeat singer, novelist and independent candidate for governor in 2006, leads the field with 19 percent. Lawyer-businessman Tom Schieffer has 10 percent, and four other names tested had 5 percent or less. Six percent preferred someone else. But, at this point, 55 percent don't know whom they would support.

In a general election match-ups against specific Democratic names, Perry leads Schieffer, 36 percent to 25 percent, with 11 percent preferring a third-party candidate and 28 percent undecided. Hutchison leads Schieffer, 40 percent to 20 percent, with 10 percent favoring a third-party candidate and 31 percent undecided.

Perry leads Friedman, 38 percent to 23 percent, with 15 percent favoring a third-party candidate and 24 percent undecided. Bailey leads Friedman, 41 percent to 21 percent, with 12 percent preferring a third-party candidate and 26 percent undecided.

The margin of error for the general election is 3.46 percent.