Posted on 12/09/2011 8:15:36 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
As conservatives look over the field of candidates we have been provided this election cycle, one thing becomes abundantly clear: most of these candidates will lose to Obama in 2012. But Rick Perry is the only guy that can show why he is the one you want to have a beer with while Obama is the one upset that the price of arugula is has risen at Wholefoods. If youre reading this, you may not care who the most likable presidential candidate is, but the voters who decide elections do. The simple truth is that Perry is likable, Romney and Gingrich arent.
Mitt Romney has shown himself to be inherently unlikable. His whole persona seems contrived. He wasnt asked to run for president, he dedicated his life to it. In the General Election, Romney will come off as disingenuous, out-of-touch and rich. Before this presidential run he had over four housesyou may not care, but General Election voters will. The only consistent political position he holds is on a healthcare mandatevoters want someone they can trust. Romney is ripe for attacks. David Axlerod will paint Romney as an out-of-touch opportunist and it will stick enough to convince independents in OH, FL and PA to stick with the known quantity of Obama.
Newt Gingrich running for president is like one of those bad movie sequels where you ask yourself, why was it necessary to do this again? We already ran an old, rich, fat, white guy. He was out of touch and lost by embarrassing margins.
There are also a lot of differences between McCain and Gingrich, but none of these factors make Newt more likely to win. Newt is more arrogant than McCain, and whether we like it or not is defined by the media narrative as politically petty. He is a serial adulterer. Obama is a family man. Newt is a fighter and he will take it to Obama. The base loves that, we eat it up and cant wait to see a debate. But Newts style isnt going to play exceedingly well to General Election Voters. He comes off as self-absorbed and arrogant. When he cuts down a reporter youll catch a brief glare and maybe a smirk, but never a smile. The guy has no general election strengths. He is a loser and we have seen the original back in 2008. Dont be duped into paying for the sequel!
Rick Perry is the only one that can beat Obama. Perry has something that neither Newt nor Mitt possess. Likability. When asked who was the nicest and friendliest candidate backstage at Republican debates, Jon Huntsmans daughters unanimously answered Rick Perry. Governor Perry has General Election likability and that is what it takes to win.
Would anyone say that Jimmy Carter was more likable than Ronald Reagan? Mondale more likable than Reagan? Bush I or Dole more likable than Clinton? Gore or Kerry more likable than Bush II? McCain more likable than Obama? Of course not, the likable guy always, always, always wins in presidential elections.
Obama is infinitely more likable than Mitt or Newt. But Rick Perry is the guy you want to have a beer with in 2012 and that will make all of the difference.
While Obama comes off as more genuine than Newt or Mitt, he doesnt have that advantage over Perry.
In the end, Perry, due to his accent and demeanor is the most likable guy in a matchup and his record speaks for itself. He is the only one that can really exploit Obama as the guy who is upset because the price of arugula has risen at Whole Foods.
On the stump no one draws a brighter contrast with Obama than Perry. While an Obama speech is a jarring experience with right-to-left teleprompter reads while never looking into the camera, Rick Perry hits the stage with a few note cards and a lot of passion.
On top of all of these factors, Perry is the only guy that cant be painted as out-of-touch, (During the last election, Romney still had five houses; Newt Gingrich has a half-million dollar line of credit at Tiffanys Jewelers).
Perry is the guy you want to have a beer with and people dont have to weigh how smart he is, all they need to know is that he has an amazing record as governor for ten years of one or our largest states.
Whether you are looking for a strong record, conservative consistency or the greatest chances of winning a general election, Rick Perry is your guy. IOWANS: UNITE AROUND YOUR MAN!
Texas, the 13th largest economy in the world. Gov. Rick Perry, the longest serving governor of Texas.
The Perry Plan: Energizing American Jobs and Security
The Perry Economic Plan: Cut, Balance and Grow
Texas, Austin exception to gloomy retail picture
The only problem with this analysis is that Mr. Perry entered the race with about 30% and a small front-runner status. After several debates, repeated mis-steps, and some very awkward moments, he drove himself into the single digits. One reason for this is — he was anything by likeable. In fact, I wanted to like this guy, and at times his awkward appearance, badly practiced jokes and attacks, actually made me uncomfortable. This guy is not coming back. He may be a hoot in small groups, but whatever he has does not translate in any way through TV (which is where 99.9 percent of voters will only know him)
The only candidate who can beat Obama? Based on what? This writer’s opinion, or recent Rasmussen polling, where Perry performs far worse against Obama than Newt or Mitt? Perry has to offer himself as a viable alternative to both Mitt and Obama and he is failing at that.
Obama
45%
Gingrich
40%
Dec 6-7, 2011
Obama
46%
Perry
34%
Dec 4-5, 2011
Obama
42%
Romney
40%
Nov 30-Dec 1, 2011
I wouldn't count on that. All Governor Perry needs is a good showing in Iowa to put him right back in contention. Newt's leading big there but there are a whole lot of undecideds and almost no one, according to recent polls, is firmly committed to ANY candidate. Iowa is completely up in the air. But among potential caucus goers who have seen at least one Rick Perry ad he has a 71% approval rating. Don't write him off!
Every candidate likes to say they are the only one who can beat Obama. Even the Paultards say Paul is. The fact is, it is going to be a hard fight. I don’t buy this “anyone can beat Obama” mantra. If only the informed vote, that would be one thing, but a majority of voters are ‘pop culture’ voters who go with who may be popular at the time. We don’t live in 1980 any more where people sit down and read the news paper and watch nightly news as a family any more. We live in American Idol, Glee, Jersey Shore world now.
A good showing by Perry in Iowa will change all that. I predict that he’ll come in either 1st or 2nd...a very strong 3rd at worst.
The sad, sad truth!
I think most people won't vote for him because he can't articulate at all, he may be our worst candidate in the general at this point as far as electability is concerned.
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You must admit that was the anti-Romney effect that almost all the candidates have experienced. Now the fight is on.
Well, I’m a Perry supporter but I hope this author is wrong. I’d like to think that any one of our people will take out Obama. We MUST take out Obama—MUST!!!
Perry has had some very good performances recently.
We MUST!
And hopefully it will be small-government, 10th Amendment, job growing, regulation crushing, over-litigation fighting, tax cutting, family and gun loving -— Rick Perry.
You have obviously not seen Governor Perry in any forum except the first two debates that he participated in. Google his speeches or his appearances on Leno, Cavuto or Hannity and then tell me he can't articulate.
I really and truly do not believe that Newt can do the job. I can see him winning the nomination but the minute he does the crap will start hitting him from all corners. And when it does the worst thing about it will be that it's all true.
Sorry, I'm not buying it.
I didn’t ask you to buy anything. I suggested that you learn a little about what you’re talking about so as not to continue spouting disproved information.
You notice in those poll numbers that NONE are beating Obama.
Take in to account the coming year of rehabilitation and resurrection of Obama, the manipulation of the joblessness numbers and inflation numbers, the lauding of Obama’s foreign policy successes, and you have a incumbent who is going to be VERY difficult to defeat.
Many thought Clinton was a one-timer. Many think Obama is.
The race is only going to be tougher in the coming months, and that gives the incumbent the edge. The Republican anybody-can-beat-Obama-think may keep them out of the White House for another 4 years. The Republicans need a strong candidate who can draw a clearly defined distinction between Obama and his Change and a new direction. Flip-floppers cannot show such a clear distinction.
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