Perry can come up tomorrow with a 45 seconds political commercial showing Romney, with his own image and voice, stating his liberal positions on abortion, gay marriage, gun control, man-made global warming, etc... The ad would be more devastating, more effective, and more talked about than any debate soundbite.
Now almost everyone has dramatically lowered the expectation for Perry debate performance and they think of him as a bad debater which should work to Perry advantage.
No doubt about it.
Debates are important, but they do not elect a candidate. They're one factor out of many. Debates allow people in different parts of the country to see regional or state candidates they otherwise would have no interest in.
Perry's problem on Thursday is he stumbled several times and came across unprepared. I agree his campign puts out good ads. I understand he's a good retail politician, can work a crowd well and gives a good speech. But people want to see how candidates move on their feet in an environment that is not in their control.
Most elections in my lifetime were won because the voters threw the rascal out. Few are won, many are lost.