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Texas Governor: Abbott (R) 53%, Davis (D) 41%

Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott leads Democratic State Senator Wendy Davis by 12 points in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 Texas gubernatorial race.

The latest statewide survey of Likely Texas Voters shows Abbott with 53% support to 41% for Davis. At this early point in the campaign, there are surprisingly few voters who haven’t already made up their minds: One percent (1%) likes some other candidate in the race, and four percent (4%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Both candidates are well-known in the state, but Davis, at this early juncture, is viewed Very Unfavorably by 34% of the state’s voters, compared to just 17% who feel that way about Abbott. Thirty-four percent (34%) have a Very Favorable opinion of the GOP candidate, while 22% view Davis Very Favorably.

At this point in an election cycle, Rasmussen Reports considers the number of people with a strong opinion more significant than the total favorable/unfavorable numbers. 

Davis leads among women voters 53% to 41%, but Abbott leads among men by better than two-to-one - 66% to 29%. 

Each candidate earns 91% support from voters in their respective party. Abbott leads 50% to 37% among unaffiliated voters.

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Texas was conducted on March 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Thirty-six states are having gubernatorial elections this coming November. Check our first look at the races in Arkansas and South Dakota. Davis and Abbott are running for the job now held by retiring GOP Governor Rick Perry. Rasmussen Reports will release new numbers about Perry tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.

Abbott posts double-digit leads over Davis in voter trust when it comes to government spending – 51% to 33% - and taxes – 52% to 33%. The Republican is ahead by nine – 46% to 37% - in the area of government ethics and corruption.

Davis, who made her mark in the state with a filibuster last year against anti-abortion legislation, trails by just six – 48% to 42% - when voters are asked whom they trust more on social issues.

Texas voters like the Tea Party more than voters nationally do. Thirty-nine percent (39%) of voters in the state view the grass roots movement favorably, compared to 31% nationwide. Forty-five percent (45%) of Texas voters have an unfavorable opinion of the Tea Party, with 16% more who are undecided.

Abbott earns 91% support from voters with a favorable opinion of the Tea Party. Davis picks up 74% of the vote from those who view the movement unfavorably.

Eighteen percent (18%) of all Texas voters rate the U.S. economy as good or excellent, while 37% describe it as poor. Thirty-seven percent (37%) view their own personal finances as good or excellent, but 21% say their finances are poor.

Forty-six percent (46%) in Texas approve of the job the president is doing, while 52% disapprove. This includes 26% who Strongly Approve of Obama’s job performance and 46% who Strongly Disapprove, giving him a job approval rating in the state slightly worse than the one he earns nationally.

Additional information from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

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The survey of 500 Likely Voters in Texas was conducted on March 3-4, 2014 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

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