Posted on 07/21/2011 7:55:41 PM PDT by smoothsailing
July 21, 2011
Republicans disappointed with their party's current slate of presidential candidates are stepping up the pressure on Texas Gov. Rick Perry to enter the race. And it's looking increasingly likely that Perry will declare his candidacy soon. "I'm getting more and more comfortable every day that this is what I've been called to do," Perry told the Des Moines Register recently. "This is what America needs." How would a Perry run reshape the Republican primaries? Here, four theories:
1. Perry would make the early contests closer
The Texas governor has generated buzz aplenty, says John Whitesides at Reuters, largely because he'll challenge frontrunners Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann head on. "If he gets in, he plans to run in each of the states with early nominating contests, directly challenging Bachmann in her top priority of Iowa and Romney in New Hampshire." Perry appeals to social conservatives who hate Romney, and has pro-business credentials Bachmann can only dream of, so he should be able to up the excitement factor in the early primaries.
2. Perry would overshadow Pawlenty and Huntsman
With Perry in the race, says Alex Roarty at National Journal, former governors Tim Pawlenty (of Minnesota) and Jon Huntsman (of Utah) would slide further toward oblivion. Both Pawlenty and Huntsman were "at one time considered among the most likely to win the party's nomination," but in a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal survey, they won the support of just 2 percent of Republicans. Without even declaring his candidacy, Perry earned twice as much support, trailing only Romney and Bachmann.
3. He'd unite the establishment and Tea Party
"Perry is clearly the flavor of the month among Republican insiders," say Chris Cillizza and Aaron Blake at The Washington Post. But he has broader appeal than other contenders. Perry is a critic of federal power, has a record of creating jobs in Texas, and boasts party ties that would almost certainly give him the second biggest warchest behind Romney. Add it all up and Perry's "the candidate perhaps best positioned to bridge the gap between the establishment wing and the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party."
4. Perry would give disgruntled Republicans someone to root for
"There's a hole in the Republican primary field you could drive a truck through right now," says the Texas Tribune's Evan Smith, as quoted by WNYC.org. He'd be someone evangelicals could get behind, instead of settling for Bachmann despite her broader electability problems. He'd give Southerners a candidate. He'd also be a powerhouse the Tea Party could get behind to build on the momentum they created last year. Big chunks of the GOP base are still looking for a candidate, and Perry "checks a lot of those boxes."
Not quite sure what you mean there. Certainly the Eagle Scout, Air Force Captain, American Legion member, Texas A&M Aggie grad, former Texas Agriculture Secretary who grew up on a farm in Paint Creek Texas has some cattle somewhere.
“Karl Rove says he and consultant David Weeks persuaded Rick Perry to switch parties and run for state agriculture commissioner.” <<<
He sure did. But it took Rick Perry to move Texas to the Right. Look around those %100 Republican office holders in state government and many districts.
You’ve been told a hundred times of Texas democratic past of the ‘80’s, and how Rick navigated up through Ag. Commissioner. All Texas farmers were democrats as they were in Oklahoma. Heck, Gore was pro-life in the 80’s. You might want to get with the present facts as they are, because Rick will take off at some point when the money is where it needs to be to crush the rest, and Obama too. The goal is to actually win the general election and not peruse the scrap books of the ‘80’s. At least I’m looking at a winner in ‘12.
Hey I’m looking for Ron Paul to run for Governor.
Absolutely wrong. ...It’s about 55% ;-)
Thank God that is almost certainly never going to happen.
I don't agree with him on everything, but he is on the right side of almost all the major issues that I am most concerned about.
and don’t forget #5!!!
LOOSE THE GENERAL ELECTION, since his RINO A%% will be exposed by the media once he gets the nomination!
I pretty much see it the way you do. Perry has his warts, and he’ll have to address some of his history, but he’s probably the closest thing to an electable conservative we’ll see in the primaries, short of Sarah Palin. Actually, I like the two of them as a team.
What makes you think he’ll get the nomination?
Gee Democrats are posting and dissing Perry, because they know he would eliminate any chances of Obama being elected. Perry is no fraud. I am from TX and have previously voted for him, and would do so again.
LOL! Hey, if Perry wins this thing by a hair, at least we’ll know why!
No way. I already picked SARAH’s VP and it is Allen West!
Took me awhile to see find someone of her caliber and today I found the man, a fighter, a threat to the establishment, a man of honor - who earned his stripes - Allen West!
Palin/West 2012 Ready for battle, ready for duty! Game on - Let’s roll PATRIOTS!
EV, you posted a reply to an earlier truthfreedom’s post 9:
Post 9: “but there’s really nothing in her record at all to suggest that Palin is a Globalist at all.”
Post 16: “Well, there is the fact that her main foreign policy adviser until very recently was Randy Schueneman, a DC lobbyist who is on George Soros’ payroll.
And her support for the Law of the Sea Treaty, which would give the UN taxing authority and control over about 70% of the earth’s surface, and the resources that go with that.”
%%%%%%%%%%
I did not know that. Thank you for those links. Certainly gives one food for serious thought. *sigh*
Hey, I can handle that, it would drive the leftards out of their vile little minds!
Sure. Facts is facts.
You got that right!!
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