Posted on 12/04/2011 9:07:28 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour seems to think so:
Q: Is it becoming clear that Mitt Romney will emerge as the Republican nominee?
A: I dont think its clear. I think people make the mistake of writing off Rick Perry and believe he cant come back. Hes got a mountain to get over, but I dont think its impossible. Both Newt and Romney have a lot of support, but I dont think its a two-man race. I think Perry could get back in it with Gingrich and Romney. I cant look you in the eye and say nobody else can come up. Youve got to learn your lesson this year not to say that about anybody."
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Coincidentally, this subject came up a day or so earlier on Twitter, in a conversation involving Allahpundit, blogger Karol Markowicz, fundraiser/adviser Nathan Wurtzel and me. AP, skeptical of a possible comeback, asked me what I thought Perry would have to do to get back into contention.
I think the first and most difficult step is for Perry to stop being a bad candidate. He has gotten a bit better under the radar, but needs to continue to improve.
If Perry does improve, he may stand a shot at placing third in the Iowa caucuses. The new Des Moines Register poll has Perry near the bottom at six percent, but the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. PPP has a poll in the field in Iowa and teases that Perry appears to be in double digits.
The Register poll shows more respondents choose Gingrich as their second choice than any other candidate. However, Perry could benefit not only from Herman Cains collapse, but also from lingering doubts about Gingrich.
In Iowa, the doubts will primarily come from the religious right. In past cycles, social conservatives ensured victories for candidates like Pat Robertson and Mike Huckabee. This year, there is no consensus candidate.
Newt he of the serial infidelities and divorces bought himself some goodwill with some religious conservatives by pouring $150,000 into the successful 2010 campaign to oust three Iowa Supreme Court judges after the states high court struck down a state ban on same-sex marriage. But even that support has proved controversial among social cons in Iowa. And Newt probably did not help himself with them by telling Jake Tapper human life begins at implantation rather than conception.
Michelle Bachmann also hurt herself recently with this demographic by gaining access to the email database of a group of parents who homeschool their children in Iowa and sending them two unsolicited email blasts. Nor does there appear to be any groundswell in Iowa for Rick Santorum.
Perry seems to have figured all of this out; his latest ad is aimed squarely at religious conservatives. If Perry climbs back into third place (or at least ties it with Ron Paul) in Iowa, he has a shot at maintaining a viable campaign. There is the traditional spin about there being three tickets out of Iowa and Perry like Romney and Gingrich is blessed by his rivals. Conservative voters are looking for a viable NotRomney, and while they are currently flocking to Gingrich, all the polling suggests his support (like those for his rivals) remains soft.
NotRomney voters may also be looking for an insurance policy, given Gingrichs demonstrated propensity to implode. Indeed, Gingrich looked as though he had his final implosion just a few months ago. And if Newt can make a comeback, it is possible that Perry could do the same. But its not likely unless Perry continues to improve his campaign over the next month.
The Perry Plan: Energizing American Jobs and Security
The Perry Economic Plan: Cut, Balance and Grow
There is a huge "anybody but Romney" contingency that is still making up it's collective mind and Gingrich could gaffe himself out of the race.
In Iowa only 10% say they’re “set” on a choice and 60% say they could switch.
I certainly think he could. There will be a reevaluation as Newt surges.
Look at what you get if you choose RINOmney. Look at what you get if you
choose Newt. Look at what you get if you choose Perry.
As the early primaries unfold, voters in many states will split into a number
of candidates.
It is far too early to decide and the primary process is different this year.
It will be slower and winner won’t take all. This should favor the candidates
with staying power - money, organization, popular ideas.
Will Perry blow his second chance?
Only time will tell.
Personally, I only know I won’t be voting for RINOmney ever. I won’t be voting
for HuntsRINO ever. Newt, eh. I’m open after that.
Phfsssst! The fire is gone. MSM 2 Repubs 0. The only two candidates with fire in their Bellies are gone, fizzeled out by the MSM who are gloating in their cubicals because they have the Repubs spinning like out of control tops. They are probably waiting for the next couple of rounds for a complete hat trick.
Newt doesn't make gaffes...he just tells us what he REALLY thinks every once in a while. Like when he referred to Paul Ryan's Medicare and Medicaid fix as "Right Wing Social Engineering". He sounded just like David Axelrod there!
Phfsssst! The fire is gone. MSM 2 Repubs 0. The only two candidates with fire in their Bellies are gone, fizzeled out by the MSM who are gloating in their cubicals because they have the Repubs spinning like out of control tops. They are probably waiting for the next couple of rounds for a complete hat trick.
even on Huckabee’s state Atty General one on one show last night Perry had a hard time thinking and talking at the same time.. it ain’t going to happen with this guy sorry to say...
Is he missing? I actually thought his performance last night was one of his best yet.
Hannitys 3rd Freedom Concert - Perry on America heroes! 7 minute video
So, the rest of the viable conservative slate on the ticket self-destruct in one manner or the other and we are all of a sudden to supposed to traipse back to Perry? Come on! This man is a public relations nightmare! He’s had two, three, four chances! He cannot represent himself clearly and concisely. A man that cannot do that is unknowingly betraying his conflicting base beliefs. I don’t believe he is our salvation for one minute. Pretty has to do more than just stand there.
I've been giving away Perry's book "Fed UP" to anyone who'd freepmail me for one. I have a few left and if you know of anyone who'd like one please ask them to Freepmail me. All I ask is that they have an open mind about supporting Governor Perry and that they read the book and pass it along to someone else who would be interested in reading it.
I disagree. But you go ahead and dump on Perry (you always do).
“Phfsssst! The fire is gone. MSM 2 Repubs 0. The only two candidates with fire in their Bellies are gone, fizzeled out by the MSM who are gloating in their cubicals because they have the Repubs spinning like out of control tops. They are probably waiting for the next couple of rounds for a complete hat trick.”
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Exactly!
I ‘dump’ on him as you say, not so much because he is a clutz, but because of his fatal illegal alien mistake - one from which he cannot retreat nor explain away with other ‘conservative’ props.
Not one primary vote has been cast yet and with 65%-70% of GOP primary voters still uncertain who they will vote for, this remains a wide open race.
Perry has the best conservative credentials of ALL the candidates and is head and shoulders above a phony like Romney or a situational conservatives like Gingrich. If Perry can somehow overcome ALL the self inflicted errors and mistakes he’s burdened his candidacy with, he still has a shot. Albeit, a long shot.
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