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4 ways Rick Perry could shake up the GOP race
The Week ^ | 7-21-2011 | The List

Posted on 07/21/2011 7:55:41 PM PDT by smoothsailing

4 ways Rick Perry could shake up the GOP race

The Texas governor is flirting with a run for the Republican presidential nomination — and he'd arguably make the contest a lot more interesting

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."


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: formerdemocratperry; gardasil; gardasilperry; openborders; presidentperry; rinoerry; romneychesspiece; rovespuppet; transtexascorridor
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To: truthfreedom

My god! Do you just vomit the same identical talking points over and over ad nauseum?

For the most part, they are misleading and, in many cases, irrelevant, but there you are to puke the same talking points in thread after thread after thread.

How much do you get paid to do that?


41 posted on 07/21/2011 8:56:32 PM PDT by OrangeHoof (Obama: The Dr. Kevorkian of the American economy.)
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To: smoothsailing

Well, he could really shake things up by actually becoming a Tea-Party member and walking back his refusal to support AZ1070, apologizing for signing a Pro-Homosexual Hate-Crimes bill, and reversing his stand against a Physical Border Fence.

That would really shake things up and go a long ways to cleaning up his non-conservative record.


42 posted on 07/21/2011 8:59:23 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: Redbob

I’d vote for him based on that choice. I don’t know much about him yet.


43 posted on 07/21/2011 8:59:42 PM PDT by Lumper20
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To: smoothsailing
it would drive the leftards out of their vile little minds!

Absolutely! And the RINO'S - they cannot be controlled by them which ALWAYS was standard practice with the elitists - we get a two-fer. Two normal American PATRIOTS who fight for this country - it's not about them - but OUR COUNTRY!
44 posted on 07/21/2011 8:59:42 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: smoothsailing

He’s got it. Palin is going to be his vp. Want to make a wager? ;0)


45 posted on 07/21/2011 9:03:33 PM PDT by proudtobeanamerican1 (A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Abraham Lincoln)
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To: normy; ImProudToBeAnAmerican

Well lets explain it to you since you seem be low in the compreshension skill set.

The phrase he’s “All Hat and No Cattle” in this context, means he is a pretend conservative in several regards because he talks out of both sides of his mouth on those issues.

He wants you to believe he is strong on Illegal Immigration issues, but on the two solutions that would actually cure the problem for Texas, he decided he would pass:

1. An AZ1070 type of bill.
2. A border fence.

Furthermore, he spouts off every now and again about how Undocumented Workers(Illegal Aliens) should be given citizenship(Amnesty).

Does that clear it up for you oh you of low compreshension?


46 posted on 07/21/2011 9:04:38 PM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: smoothsailing

Unless Sarah comes out and gives her unconditional blessing of Perry...

I’m not going to vote for Perry.

Don’t Tread On Sarah!

* grizzly growl *


47 posted on 07/21/2011 9:08:39 PM PDT by JohnBrownUSA (Don't Tread On Me!)
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To: SoConPubbie
As a Texan if Perry ever claimed to want to fence off the Rio Grande making it inaccessible to Texans for their use (including ranchers) I would want him thrown out on his ear.

As far as not wanting an Arizona style bill, that is a Texas decision. Arizona thinks it will work, that's great, it probably will. Maybe in a couple years we will have a record to make sure it works and Texas will vote one into law.

To claim Perry is "all hat and no cattle" is so ridiculous, his overall record says otherwise.

48 posted on 07/21/2011 9:11:48 PM PDT by normy (Don't take it personally, just take it seriously.)
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To: smoothsailing

Is Perry going to Washington to “Build a Better Burger?” Maybe he can sell off the nations highways to the global elite—while he’s at it, maybe the water supply and maybe our ports to Dubai-—nah, no one would try that, eh?


49 posted on 07/21/2011 9:12:34 PM PDT by abigkahuna
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To: presently no screen name
it would drive the leftards out of their vile little minds! Absolutely! And the RINO'S

You betcha! They would have to hit us with their dream team!

Photobucket

50 posted on 07/21/2011 9:15:15 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: proudtobeanamerican1

I was thinking Palin/Perry but you’re saying Perry/Palin? OK, I think either one would be a winner.


51 posted on 07/21/2011 9:17:53 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: abigkahuna

Maybe he’ll ram a log of Guardasil up Obama’s wazoo! Wouldn’t that be special!


52 posted on 07/21/2011 9:21:28 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: normy

Perry is calling himself - ‘his turn’ since the elitist see the Mitt thing ain’t going anywhere. Rove behind the scenes pulling strings. Career politicians lost their edge - it’s all about them.

Palin/West! ‘We the People’ PATRIOTS - PROVEN FIGHTERS and a threat to the elite establishment.


53 posted on 07/21/2011 9:27:12 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: proudtobeanamerican1
Photobucket

Just in case you're right! :o)

54 posted on 07/21/2011 9:28:24 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

All dressed up in their party hats and no where to go. ;)


55 posted on 07/21/2011 9:29:35 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: truthfreedom

Don’t be fergittin all them other Perry Derangement Syndrome Coyote Talking Points “was a dem”, “Guardisil drug pusher”, “illegal immigrant bootlicker” and “Trans Texas Corridor sneaker”.


56 posted on 07/21/2011 9:32:22 PM PDT by dusttoyou ("Progressives" are wee-weeing all over themselves, Foc nobama)
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To: JohnBrownUSA

Sarah won’t do that. She was asked by Perry when he was running against the lib for governor and she did as she promised - whoever asks for her help, she will oblige.


57 posted on 07/21/2011 9:34:17 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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To: Redbob

I will vote write in or third party if the Republicans run a socialist.


58 posted on 07/21/2011 9:37:38 PM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: dusttoyou
Don’t be fergittin all them other Perry Derangement Syndrome Coyote Talking Points...

LOL, that's asking alot, remember who you're dealing with. :o)

Photobucket

59 posted on 07/21/2011 9:39:37 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

Rab is kinda partial to a semi orio; Palin // Cain combo. Good common sense and good management.

R.


60 posted on 07/21/2011 9:39:40 PM PDT by Rabin
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