Posted on 01/22/2012 4:07:26 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
GREENVILLE, S.C. — After Texas Gov. Rick Perry bowed out of the presidential race last week, his senior campaign leaders in South Carolina set to work closing down the three campaign offices, collecting yard signs and dismantling staff.
But their most important assignment from Perry, said state campaign chairman Katon Dawson, was to go to work immediately to help former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in his battle to upset former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the state’s critical first-in-the South primary.
Perry’s decision to drop out of the race and endorse the former speaker helped contribute to Gingrich’s decisive victory in the Palmetto State, although the exact degree was still being determined as results continued to come in Saturday.
Gingrich called Perry after his victory and later told supporters that Perry was “very generous” in extending his endorsement.
“His passion is implementing the 10th Amendment,” Gingrich said of his former adversary-turned-supporter. “We’re going to work with him to return power to the states to local governments and get it out of Washington, D.C.”
All but one of the 22 state officials who endorsed Perry early in his campaign transferred their loyalty to Gingrich after Perry pulled out of his race and bestowed his remaining South Carolina political capital on Gingrich. Dawson, a former state GOP chairman, and other political heavyweights formerly aligned with Perry worked their contacts to help marshal support for Gingrich.
In a statement after the primary, Perry congratulated Gingrich on his “big win” in South Carolina and described him as the “conservative standard-bearer” in the Florida primary and beyond.
“Newt Gingrich is the conservative change agent we need to contrast, debate and defeat President Obama in November,” said Perry.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bostonherald.com ...
Good man.
My hat is off to you.
Through all the stuff, that I and others have thrown at you, you have remained strong, and positive and I commend you and will do your dishes for a week.
Perry did a smart thing and is a class act and I thank him.
I've become a Newtster, not like I was a Sarah guy nor even a Cain Train rider, but here we are.
I picked up a neat way to donate small amounts and do it more often, with Cain I was donating $ 9.99 very often and now with Newt I'm doing $20.12 but not quite as often.
I know that’s right but Pres. Bush had both houses and they turned their backs on him. How’s that going to work this time?
Perry’s a good man but I wouldn’t want him at DHS, since he’s committed to letting illegals live in America, without penalty.
You’re full of it.
Perry showed what it means to be a true Texian.
No, I’m not. I was looking forward to supporting Perry when he joined the race, until he started talking about the illegals in his state. He is just like Ron Paul: sounding great on the issues until you bring up their Achille’s heel. For Paul, it’s foreign policy; for Perry, it’s illegal immigration.
Perry is a very good man and good on the issues who just couldn’t articulate them clearly enough. He showed that he is a quality man by the way he has conducted himself when he realized he wasn’t going to win.
Hats off to Rick P.
I can now tell you that you have been a valiant defender of Perry. While I could never have supported him for the reasons I articulated I will give you credit for being a brave and loyal supporter.
You really got to hand it to Rick. He was out anyway, but he stepped aside while he still had a hand to play.
And let’s not discount Sarah’s contribution. Newt said it made a huge impact in volunteer staff.
“I know that’s right but Pres. Bush had both houses and they turned their backs on him. How’s that going to work this time?”
Because Gingrich won’t let them. Gingrich knows where the bodies are buried and he won’t take no for an answer.
It would seem your agenda is to keep this forum divided by lying about another candidate.
Gov. Perry has NEVER been for illegal immigration. But your insistence on keeping that out there as a fact says it all.
Perry truly is a great man. Maybe this year was just not his year and, as he said, was God’s way of seasoning him and strengthening his faith. I will continue to hope that his time will come in the future. I would love to have him leading this nation.
I couldn’t help but contrast Perry’s generosity and graciousness in his drop-out speech to Romney’s petulance and boorishness when he conceded last night.
So, please tell me what sank his campaign, if not his defense of giving in-state tuition to illegals? That’s all that comes to mind, unless it was his overreaching with government power and Gardisil.
You’re a real study.
LOL! I like that. Much better than having FBI files.
Excellent point about Palin’s endorsement.
Sounds like a good plan. Maybe Secretary of Commerce?
How about Perry as Departmental Dismantlement Czar? First assignments: Energy, Commerce, Education.
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