Posted on 09/02/2011 10:53:13 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Sure, he polls well, but can he debate?
The polls keep looking better and better for Rick Perry, despite this week’s provocative headline in Politico, “Is Rick Perry Dumb?” Dumb or not, it sure seems to be working.
On Monday, a CNN/ORC International poll of Republicans and independent voters who lean Republican found that Perry’s still on top, with 27 percent of Republicans nationwide supporting him for the nomination. Romney’s in second with 14 percent. A poll released Tuesday from Public Policy Polling showed Perry leading among likely Republican primary voters in South Carolina with 36 percent, a full 20 points ahead of Mitt Romney. This shouldn’t be too surprising considering that Perry chose the Palmetto State to announce his official candidacy. I bet Romney’s ahead in Utah.
Not to be outdone by the furious polling conducted by CNN and PPP of every Republican-leaning household in the world, Quinnipiac University released its own national poll Wednesday showing that Perry is the first choice for 26 percent of Republican voters, followed by Romney at 20 percent. But there is some good news for Romney. He has a favorability rating of 57 percent compared to Perry’s 44 percent. Both candidates are running about even with President Obama, although on Thursday Rasmussen Reports showed Perry with a small edge over Obama, 44 to 41 percent. Likeability is clearly not a factor here.
So what should we make of Perry’s strong showing in the polls? Is he unstoppable? Or will he crack during next Wednesday’s GOP presidential debate? The debate, hosted by NBC News and Politico, will be held (naturally) at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. If you’ve ever seen Perry debate (a rare treat, as he avoids them at all costs), you’ll know this isn’t his strongest forum. There will be no bales of hay to casually place his cowboy boot upon. There will be no tea party crowd to whisper sweet nothings of secession and deportation to. There won’t be any snubbing of the media, since this is sponsored by the media and that would just be awkward. The governor is actually going to have to answer questions and acknowledge the other candidates. Perry doesn’t like sharing the stage, unless it’s with Ted Nugent.
Baby Got Backers
Fresh on the heels of receiving the coveted endorsement of one-time semi-celebrity gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman, who was apparently trying to remind people of his existence, Perry got another key endorsement this week—that of influential evangelical leader Rick Scarborough. Scarborough, the founder of Vision America, told TIME that he would be making his case to other social conservatives. “That’s not to say Rick Perry is Jesus because he is not,” Scarborough said. “But when you look at his full body of work, he’s been the best governor we’ve ever had.” So, kind of like Jesus.
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) also endorsed Perry, the first U.S. senator to do so in the 2012 primary. Inhofe told NBC News that Perry’s “gubernatorial experience, personal profile, and good looks” make him the candidate to beat. At least until Sarah Palin enters the race. She’s much better looking.
False Security
Meanwhile Perry is doing his best to piss off those already-cranky seniors by taking even more shots at Social Security. On a campaign stop in Iowa Saturday, he repeated accusations in his book, Fed Up!, that the program is unconstitutional and amounts to a “Ponzi scheme” for young people. “The idea that they’re working and paying into Social Security today, that the current program is going to be there for them, is a lie,” he said. Later Perry reasserted that he hadn’t backed off any of the claims in his book. “So read the book again and get it right,” he told the crowd, thereby assuming that anyone read it in the first place.
How to Ruin Perry’s Day…
…take away his sonogram law.
This week a federal judge in Austin found that several portions of the law, which requires sonograms for any woman seeking to obtain an abortion, were “unconstitutionally vague” and violate the First Amendment. The preliminary injunction issued by the court blocks the state from enforcing penalties against either the doctor or the woman. The law was to take effect on September 1. Of course, Perry can always blame it on that activist judge and the pesky First Amendment that got in the way. Nothing like red meat for the base.
Another moronic Democrat asking if Perry is dumb when our idiot-in-chief tries to run the economy with no understanding of simple micro or macroeconomics. Beautiful.
Let the fool play golf. He does less damage that way.
And I should further add the more you hear the criticism coming from these washed out, brainless leftists, the more I find myself liking Perry.
Only by himself Ms. Smith you dingbat!
“Eileen.” Isn’t that a woman with one leg?
Yes he can be stopped, all that has to happen is for FReepers to repeatedly post RINO RINO RINO Mitt Perry blah blah blah gardisil, illegals, and gore RINO RINO.....blah blah blah..............and voila, he is toast.
LOL!!!
You owe me a new keyboard!
From your keyboard to God’s ears!
From your keyboard to God’s ears!
Not bleeding likely!!!
With Palin’s endorsement, he's rock solid.
Also, there is an entire constellation of Conservative talent right now. Every single one of these people running for the nomination are enormously capable and necessary for an immediate Conservative victory against “O”.
Perry's support for all of them will assure the success of Conservatism for decades to come.
Can you click on a source link?
Are you always pissed off?
Do you pull legs off flies?
Do you ever get up on the right side of the bed?
“Can Perry Be Stopped?”
Not bleeding likely!!!
With Palin’s endorsement, he’s rock solid.
Also, there is an entire constellation of Conservative talent right now. Every single one of these people running for the nomination are enormously capable and necessary to an immediate Conservative victory against “O”.
Support for all of them will assure the success of Conservatism for deacades to come.
She (who I can not name) endorsed Gov. Rick Perry?
Give president McCain a call.
Perry's support for all of them will assure the success of Conservatism for decades to come.
Doesn't pass the laugh or the smell tests.
Actually, there are two real conservatives in the race: Michelle Bachman and Herman Cain, and another just offstage: Sarah Palin. We do not need another hack career politician who spent his career endorsing liberals like Al Gore and Rudy Giuliani, mandating vaccination of innocent little girls for a disease spread only by promiscuous sex, condemning rural land for an highway supporting Mexican interests, pandering to La Raza and CAIR, and excusing gay marriage.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.