The Chris Bell campaign has a new poll out and it is very interesting. It was done for the Bell campaign by one of the top public opinion firms in the nation headed by Alan Secrest. Secrest sees a real opportunity for the Bell campaign and his poll seems to confirm other public polls which show Rick Perry declining and Carole Strayhorn also going down in the public's estimation.

The Gossips find it interesting however that a number of Democrats have, at least in this poll, given up on the Bell campaign and are saying that they will vote for Kinky or Carole. That may change as this race gets tighter. The Gossips do not think that when Anglo Liberal voters go into the polls that 17% of these voters will vote for Rick Perry. But that is what this poll shows.

And give the Bell campaign credit and also Secrest for willing to point out that Chris "leads among Anglo and Hispanic Democrats, but too many of these Discouraged Texas Democrats have given up, and are tossing wasted votes to Strayhorn and Friedman."

The feeling that Chris cannot win and that the only option to Governor Perry are Strayhorn and or Friedman is a problem and that needs to be overcome by the end of September if Chris is to get the funds necessary to rage a real battle in October.

Here is the memo from Secrest:

"TO: Interested Parties

FROM: Alan Secrest

DATE: August 10, 2006

RE: Texas Governor...A Democratic Opportunity

HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE PERRY THERE FOR THE SEIZING... TEXAS DEMOCRATS: PAY ATTENTION!

A July 31 - August 6 survey of 1,010 likely Texas general election voters (error margin: +/- 3.1%) leaves little doubt that the opportunity to unseat Rick Perry exists, and that there is but one candidate who can do so: Democrat Chris Bell. Echoing public surveys also recently released, this survey makes plain that all of the recent movement in this electorate runs in the direction of a potential upset: * In an election where about a third of the electorate will win it, Perry now stands at 38% and dropping, Bell is at 18% and rising, Strayhorn at 16% and dropping, Friedman at 11% and dropping, with 1% for Werner, the Libertarian and 16% undecided. * Carole Strayhorn has seen her vote share drop in nearly every geography and demographic, including her vaunted "Grandma" demographic. In Austin she has plummeted to 4th place, and she even trails Perry among Anglo liberals. * Among those who recognize Chris Bell, the outcome is 32% Perry, 28% Bell, 16% Strayhorn, 13% Friedman, and 11% undecided. * AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN RECENT BELL TV ADS, PERRY AND CHRIS ARE TIED, 29% EACH WITH STRAYHORN COMING IN AT 19% AND FRIEDMAN AT 11%! * Fully 58% give Rick Perry NEGATIVE job ratings. * A 42% plurality of Texans who know him describe their feelings toward Kinky Friedman as negative (just 29% positive). * Among the 79% who recognize her, Carole Strayhorn's profile has now dipped to just 40% positive, 29% negative. * A solid 59% of voters criticize the performance of Texas public schools under Perry.

Conclusion

There is only one viable path to beating the hugely vulnerable Perry: Chris Bell. Neither Friedman nor Strayhorn has a chance. * Bell leads among Anglo and Hispanic Democrats, but too many of these Discouraged Texas Democrats have given up, and are tossing wasted votes to Strayhorn and Friedman.

Perry even wins 17% of Anglo liberals! If just over one-third of Friedman voters, Strayhorn voters, and undecided voters move to Bell, he would be neck and neck with Perry, an outcome foretold by the results among those who've seen Bell's television. Texas Democrats owe it to themselves to shake off the doldrums and get back in the game. The polling suggests that the only thing preventing Democrats from grabbing this opportunity is that the donor community has its own populations of Discouraged Democrats. We can win!"