Actually, Perry has a 14% DK (Don't Know).
The 30% is "Never Heard of Him".
At this stage of the game, that's good.
That means that Perry still has 44% of the voters at least willing to get to know him and possibly vote for him.
I will admit that, although Perry is my current dog in this fight, I do not necessarily "like" Perry. If I could magically construct the ideal nominee, it would not be him.
I believe that his Texas drawl will remind voters of Bush, I believe that wearing his religion on his sleeve will not play well outside of the Bible Belt and I have never cared for politicians or salesmen whose hair is too "perfect" (It reflexively makes me see if my wallet is still in my pocket.)
Yet, when I look at the executive experience of some candidates (zero) and the Favorabilty of other candidates among all voters (lower than whale scat at the bottom of the ocean) that leaves Perry as the only GOP nominee, other than the liberal Romney, that can trounce Obama in November of 2012.
To paraphrase Churchill, "Perry is the worst potential GOP candidate we have to defeat Obama .... Except for all the others."
I like Sarah's hair. :)
I actually understand exactly where you are coming from and that's why he will win.
Voters always know the best candidate is actually themselves. Since they are not running, they find one they like or project themselves onto their candidate and dismiss their faults. Like Obama voters do.