News from the great state of Texas – Rasmussen has a new poll out showing that if you have a nickname, odds are you will do better than Democratic candidate Chris Bell. The poll shows incumbent Governor Rick Perry (R) leading with 38% of the vote, independent Kinky Freidman with 20% (Kinky is his nickname, but it will appear on the ballot), Carole Keeton Strayhorn with 19% (Strayhorn is fighting to appear as “Grandma Strayhorn” on the ballot), and Chris Bell (D) in 4th place with 14% of the vote.

The poll highlights the diffuse nature of this year’s election in Texas. For the first time since 1990, it seems as though the winner will not have a majority of the vote. There are also two strong independent candidates in Kinky and Grandma, raising the possibility that Texas could have its first independent governor since 1859. All four candidates have shown that they are competitive fundraisers, adding to the likelihood that this will at least be an interesting race. In the latest filing, Perry raised in $375,021, Bell $333,212, Strayhorn $307,534, and Friedman $149,132.

Also of interest from the fundraising reports, Perry brought in a number of donations of 5 cents or less. The donations seem to be connected to a radio show host who suggested the idea on air.