The Texas Tribune launches today and its inaugural publication includes a University of Texas poll the Tribune commissioned on the Texas political landscape. Not surprisingly, its poll shows Governor Rick Perry leading Senator Kay Hutchison by 12 points, 42-30.  You can find more of the results including the poll and relevant cross-tabulations here.

I am confident in the polls findings. Hutchison’s campaign has been nothing short of lackluster and abysmal. While she has won a few rounds of sparring – she’s hit Perry pretty hard on a few issues – but most of Perry’s hits have been self-inflicted and from which, I believe he can regain his footing and recover.  Her missteps, on the other hand, have been disabling.  Will she or won’t she resign her Senate seat to run for Governor? That’s an issue she created and continues to stir with inaction.

The election is months away – March – and 12 points can be closed in that period of time. But for her to close that gap will require a life from her campaign I have seen only sporadically and a momentum swing that will be extremely difficult to produce.