The Galveston County Daily News

GALVESTON — The spotlight on the race for the Republican nomination for governor will be on Galveston this weekend as Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison attempt to woo the votes of a key constituency — conservative women.

Both candidates are scheduled to address members of the Texas Federation of Republican Women as the political group holds its biennial convention on the island.

Perry is scheduled to give his speech during the convention’s opening session at 3:30 p.m. today, campaign spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said. The governor also is scheduled to attend a private campaign event at Trube castle and then a convention reception after his address.

Hutchison is slated to address the Republican women Saturday morning during the convention’s general session.

She has no other campaign-related events scheduled in the area this weekend, campaign spokesman Cal Sage said.

The campaign stops in Galveston are crucial in a race that has been at times bitter.

While a Rasmussen poll of likely Republican voters taken in September showed that Hutchison holds a slim lead overall, most of her gains are among moderate Republican voters. Perry’s base comes from those voters who identify themselves as conservative.

The gender base of likely voters also is split with men supporting Perry and women backing Hutchison, the poll found.

Still, 19 percent of those who responded to the Rasmussen Reports poll said they have not decided who they will support in the March primary. Less than 3 percent of the voters polled said they would support former Wharton County GOP Chairwoman Debra Medina, who entered the gubernatorial race last month.

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At a glance

WHAT: Texas Federation of Republican Women convention

WHEN: Today through Sunday

WHERE: Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort

SPEECHES: Gov. Rick Perry at 3:30 p.m. today; Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison at 9 a.m. Saturday