AUSTIN -- The Texas governor's race moved into its final full week on Monday with a new poll showing Republican incumbent Rick Perry with a 10-percentage point lead over Democratic challenger Bill White.
Perry, seeking an unprecedented third four-year term, also secured an endorsement from former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush. White, meanwhile, accused Perry of resorting to "desperation" tactics with an ad featuring the widow of a Houston police officer killed by an illegal immigrant.
The latest University of Texas/Texas Triune poll shows Perry leading White by a 50-40 percentage point margin.
Libertarian Kathie Glass has 8 percent and Green Party nominee Deb Shafto has 2 percent. The survey of 797 voters was conducted Oct. 12-18. Early voting started Oct. 18 and ends Friday.
White said his internal polls show a closer race.
"We've found a lot of momentum on our side," said the former three-term Houston mayor. "It's going to be a horse race and every vote will count."
Nevertheless, the poll underscores assessments that 2010 is a Republican year, particularly in red-state Texas. GOP incumbents in other statewide races lead Democratic opponents with margins between 13 and 20 points.
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