Are any of those people you listed Republican candidates currently running for president?
It’s 2011.
I’m looking at the existing field and Perry ain’t it... by a long shot.
If I were going to list the candidates that are currently running from most conservative to least
Rick Santorum is the most conservative - but he polls at 1-2% and just rubs me the wrong way.
Michelle Bachmann - polls at 5-7% and her campaign has apparantly completely collapsed.
Cain - polls about 5% has no record, and he hates all Muslims and wont hire any apparantly.
Newt - polls about 6-7% but has more baggage than the cargo hold of an airplane.
Perry - polls about 30% but is not very good at debating.
Romney - polls in the low 20’s but has flip flopped on every major issue in order to get elected by Republicans.
Huntsman - polls about 1% and is in the wrong party
and then you got Paul and that other guy who are so far right they are left.
So having laid that out... then you are partially right that Rick when compared to the others is not as conservative as some, but he is the most conservative candidate that polls above 10%. And I always follow Reagan rule, to support the most conservative “electable” candidate.