Posted on 10/06/2011 7:27:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Rick Perry sent a clear message to his primary opponents Wednesday: The Texas governor is buckling in for a long campaign.
Forget for a moment the poor debate performances and an embarrassing defeat in last month’s Florida straw poll. With his announced $17 million fundraising haul, Perry proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
What Perry’s fundraising shows, his backers argue, is that he’s the only conservative candidate in the race with the resources to compete against Mitt Romney over the long haul. In other words, he can spend his way out of his current predicament.
And while Perry has likely lost his chance to run away with the Republican presidential nomination, his eye-opening cash haul — collected in just 49 days — suggests he may yet be able to wrest it from Romney in an expensive, bruising nomination fight that drags on into spring.
“He is going to have the resources to run a comprehensive and lengthy campaign,” said Mississippi Republican National Committeeman Henry Barbour, a Perry supporter. “It’s clear that he would have raised more than $17 million if not for the loss of momentum that happened in Florida, which makes the $17 million more impressive.”
Former Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants said Perry’s haul would keep him in the contest, “assuming he gets his act together and has better debate performances.”
“That’s very serious money,” Rants said. “Perry has got the money to go the distance. For people who are still looking for a Romney alternative, he’s the guy they’re likely to coalesce around.”
That’s the expectation in Perry’s camp: The race will eventually narrow to a choice between two candidates, and even Republicans put off by Perry’s debate appearances will opt for him over the widely distrusted Romney.
(Excerpt) Read more at dyn.politico.com ...
Sliding toward the exit at a high rate of speed.
Impressive number.
But I’m wondering how much of that money came in the first 35 days (before the disastrous debate)... And how much over the last 15 days, since the debate?
I'm not looking for a Romney alternative or an Obama alternative. I'm looking for a smart conservative who has the ability to lead us out of the mess Democrats and the weak, effete, Republican elite got us into. I don't believe any career politician has the ability, or the desire to do this. I believe Herman Cain has the potential to be such a leader and therefore I will do whatever I can to get him elected.
While watching the debates what struck me most about Romney and Perry wasn't just that niether is a good debater, it was that, obviously, neither one of them get it. They acted exactly like what they are, establishment politicians who are looking for the next step up for them personally. We are in dire need of someone outside of this mold. Someone who is a problem solver not a schmoozer. Someone who realizes that we are fighting for our very existence as a free people. Someone like Herman Cain.
All the hatred directed towards Perry is really about Bush!
Here's the deal:
If you hate Bush with the intensity of a 1000 suns, you will hate Perry too, because honestly (and I am a Perry supporter) Perry is very similar to Bush on the political spectrum. Perry is slightly more conservative than Bush, but in all honesty would govern more of less as Bush did.
So here's the deal.
If you are like me and would find another Bush term acceptable then you are probably a Perry supporter, but if the idea of a 3rd Bush term is abhorrent to you, then you are probably currently a Cain supporter.
Forget for a moment the poor debate performances and an embarrassing defeat in last month’s Florida straw poll. With his announced $17 million fundraising haul, Perry proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with.”
Maybe.
If he performs stellar in the next debate (a rather big IF), then he will bounce up.
If he doesn’t, then, he better save the $15 million he has in the bank, b/c he won’t be getting anymore.
Personally, I like Perry (that is, in the context of the primary....). I’d like to see him do well. But my goodness, he has got to improve his debate skills and his talking points.
Actually, they did an analysis and he raised more AFTER the debate. He’s begin backed by the business community that has been watching Texas and what was done there. You can’t fake that, it’s there and those who create the jobs know it.
I’ve seen articles about how much Romney raised and how much Perry raised, but not how much Cain Raised. Has anyone seen a Cain total?
RE: Has anyone seen a Cain total?
Don’t know exact figures, but here are some links that would give us an inkling :
TITLE: Herman Cain’s Campaign: We’ve Had Best Fundraising Ever In Last 48 Hours
All I know is that in Q2 of this year, Cain raised just $2.5 Million.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/07/herman-cain-raised-nearly-25-million-in-second-quarter/
Suffice it to say that Romney and Perry are the known frontrunners PRECISELY because the big money are backing them.
The field is winnowing out. Sure, there will be positioning, debates, and fund raising. But what about the deal making between candidates? If someone sells out to rino-romney, it’s over. Conservatives comprise 40% of the general population and a healthy majority in the GOP. So why do the rinos always seem to control the party? Is this Animal Farm?
Well said!
Bush is acceptable compared to some; unacceptable compared to others.
Compared to obama? Man, a third Bush term would be great!
Could we do better?
Maybe. That’d be awesome.
But a third term for GWB looks pretty sweet right now by way of comparison.....(and believe me, I would have been in the “strongly disapprove” poll numbers starting about 2005).
I don't think he has put his numbers out yet, but heard it is around 2 million.
Because conservatives are always too happy to settle for a RINO which sounds conservative. Or a "worse RINO" boogeyman. Think Bush & McCain in 2000, McCain and Romney in 2008, Perry and Romney in 2012.
And if both falter, I see Newt stepping into that role.
I only see Romney winning if none of the other candidates can assume a viable candidacy.
I’m still for Perry at this point. I want a guy who can be an effective president, not an effective debater who’s all smooth and slick like Mitt. He should be smooth - he’s been running for president for about 6 YEARS, so he should have lots of practice! I also refuse to jump on the Cain bandwagon because the media tells me to. He has no experience and he’s no different than Obama in that regard. He’s only taken seriously because he’s black and people dont want to be called racist.
Source to back this claim up? Really want to aruge he raised more money in the 15 days after the debate then he did in the 35 days prior to it?
Which indicates you have not bothered to listen to single thing that has gone on in the GOP campaign
The only person seeing Cain's skin color around here is you.
If you want to be the GOP nominee you have to have the right mix of conservatism. Perry has the right agenda, a good governing record and sound principles on most issues. If Perry can improve his debate performance on Oct.11th at Dartmouth, he can repair his persona and regain the support he's lost.Won't be easy, but the alternatives are even worse.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.