Belo Corp. has invited Debra Medina to join Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to join the debate to be televised statewide on Belo's television stations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Its TXCN cable outlet will also carry it, as will its station Web sites and that of The Dallas Morning News.

Belo had initially excluded Medina from the debate, saying her following was too small for her to be included. Belo flagship WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth reports a Rasmussen Reports poll of 831 likely Texas voters released Monday shows Medina with 12 percent support to Perry's 43 percent and Hutchison's 33 percent.

WFAA President and General Manager Mike Devlin said that means Medina now merits an invitation.

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