Obama is weak now, but the election is a long way off. The media will invert gravity, bend light, and otherwise defy as much physics as they need to to put Obama on top. The entire deck will be swapped out for 52 race cards. You'll see it so often you'll think it's a Vegas magic act.
Whatever candidate we bring can't be a lightweight. They've lost the House, the Senate is vulnerable, and their 40 year reign dropped to 40 months. The left hates him right now, but push comes to shove, they'll fight to the death over Obama.
Perry's not the only candidate that *can* beat Obama, but he's got some massive structural advantages over him and the other Republicans running. It's easy on FR to think that supporting Al Gore in 1988 is some kind of massive dealbreaker, but 95% of the electorate couldn't give a rip. He might be 'new' to some people, but he's no 'flavor of the week'. He's clearly a veteran politician with a solid, unbroken winning streak behind him.
Casual voters are going to look at the fact that he's a governor of 25 million people on his fourth term, and that his state's doing well. They're also going to look at his aggressive attacks on Obama, and think, 'This guy is a fighter'. At the level that most of the electorate functions at, Perry's easily the best anti-Obama weapon we have.
A lot of the local favorites like Cain, Bachmann and Santorum aren't viable candidates. There's no historical evidence to show they have a prayer at anything more than a VP slot. America elects governors, generals and Vice Presidents, and very occasionally Senators. After the horrific mistake liberals and independents realize they made with the lightweight, untested Obama, they'll be looking for a thicker resume this time. There's just no way to sell independents on a Biden-esque gaffette whose husband told her to become a tax attorney while he prays the gay away, or a businessman with zero political experience.
Good conservatives, yes. Serious Presidential candidates, no.
The only heavyweights in the running (thus far) are Romney and Perry. They've got the cash, they've got the resumes, and they've got the infrastructure. Unless someone else of their stature jumps in, it's pretty clear where this race is heading.
Well if Perry and Romney end up the only ones to vote for in the primary then looks like I’ll not have a candidate to vote for from what you’ve stated.