Wednesday, on NPR's "Morning Edition" —

The Texas Republican gubernatorial primary. Rick Perry has been in office longer than any other governor in state history, but somehow he has redefined himself as the outsider ... especially when compared to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the "Washington establishment candidate," who is challenging Perry for renomination. Perry leads by a comfortable margin in all the polls. Also running: Tea Party favorite Debra Medina, who while third in the race is attracting about 20 percent of the vote.

The primary is next Tuesday, March 2. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two finishers go to an April 13 runoff.

NPR's Wade Goodwyn reports from Dallas.

Tags: Heard On NPR, On The Ballot