TEXAS RESULT – PERRY WINS EASILY – AT 11:25 P.M. ET:  From the L.A. Times:

Incumbent Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry scored an easy primary victory Tuesday against two women, GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and businesswoman Debra Medina, a favorite of Tea Party supporters.

Even before all the votes were counted Hutchison called Perry, a longtime intra-party foe, to concede, as it became apparent within minutes that he was going to achieve more than the 50% necessary to avoid a runoff with Hutchison.

with nearly three-quarters of a million votes already counted, Perry was pulling in nearly 53% while Hutchison had 31% and Medina only 17%.

The race drew special attention because of the intra-party competition and the third-wheel element of Medina as a measure of the Tea Party threat to Republican incumbents. If those numbers hold up, they show Perry having gained strength in the campaign's closing days, while his two opponents remained where recent polls put them.

COMMENT:  Perry had been expected to win, but was said to be in danger of coming in at slightly below 50%, forcing a runoff.  The runoff now won't be necessary.

Hutchison's poor showing does not bode well for her future.  She retains her Senate seat, although, as we reported earlier, she pledged to relinquish it whether she won or lost the primary.  Watch that pledge melt away.

March 2, 2010