For some reason Perry, a competent governor, could not connect with the voters. There should be an extensive post mortem as to why the various conservative candidates could not win or seriously challenge Romney. Is it merely a money matter?
Most of the problem has been the establishment GOP sitting on their hands. The Bush-Rove machine is doing pay-back for Perry not playing party politics and vacating the Texas gov. chair for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, as he was supposed to.
Not remembering your talking point does not help. I like the man, but he is ripe for ridicule. I also believe that the independents do not want another Texan.
“For some reason...”
1. The media mercilessly played up Perry’s “gaffes” from the get-go; the media practically ignores (for now) Romney’s gaffes. (he made two this past week as bad as any of Perry’s).
2. It’s partly a money matter. Perry’s money is less than Romney’s and Perry’s SuperPac is small, and hence must spend it’s money on pro-Perry ads - not anti-Romney ads. Gingrich SuperPac is the only one spending on anti-Romney ads.
3. I really doubt that voters are forgetting that whole Bush/Texas/Governor/Air Force similarity thing.