You are right in many points in your post. The real tragedy in all this (so far) is that Perry was at 41 percent and now is at around 7 percent. It is not over but really eventually the Perry supporters are going to have to analyze and make some decisions. Tonight is going to be very telling. I am very excited to see how the candidates do. It is possible that tonight is make or break for some. I would imagine that you are hoping that Perry does well. Eventually he probably will....after going through enough debates eventually you should get with the program. Well until the debate, have a great day!!!!!
The way Perry has been at the debates, I’m convinced that a competent campaign manager would have adopted a strategy wheere Perry simply IGNORED the debates for the 1st two months, and concentrated on fundraising. He had great poll numbers anyway, so he was getting press without the debates. He would have slipped, but also would have intrigued. It would have been unconventional, and avoided him debating before he was really prepared for it.
It was what I was afraid would happen to Palin had she entered the race, so it wasn’t surprising, although having heard Perry speak in person, and having watched him on TV and in videos, I was surprised at his debate performance, because he’s really a good articulate speaker, and does well answering questions.
I still hypothesize that his back treatment didn’t work so well, and that he is medicated for the pain, and it distracts him and makes him tired (I’ve had back issues so I know how that works). He also looks stiff, which would be explained by a back thing. Again, a smart candidacy would have noticed that and held him out of the debates.
On the other hand, I think being at 7% gives him some room to breathe. He’s not necessarily the target now, and can break out his plans and proposals. Most people won’t pay attention until November.
McCain was near the top of the polls for a long time in 2008. Then he fell to single digits. He shot back in December, for no apparent reason other than people started paying attention, he gave some good speeches, and polled well in NH one time. Next thing you know, he’s the frontrunner and Giulini is history.
In a poll released today, Cain was leading, with Romney close behind, and Perry at 13%. But the interesting part of the poll was that 67% of the respondents said they could switch their support.
I wish Perry had just run away with it. I think he’s good enough for the job, and it would have ensured Romney was gone, and given us lots of time to put together the fight against Obama. But he didn’t, and if he doesn’t get more support, there will be no reason for me to ever “support” him, since he won’t be able to win.
My real concern now is that I am liking Cain less and less the more I learn about him, and I’m afraid he is just the “consolation prize” candidate for all the Palin supporters. In another conversation I said it’s like Cain won the musical chairs contest, because he was sitting down when Palin dropped out.
I don’t expect it, but if Perry picked up in the next few debates, and Palin endorsed him, I think enough Palin supporters would back him to make Cain a memory. I see Cain as a much more risky candidate (not as risky as Romney was in 2008, but still risky). I say that because he has no record, only talk, and his talk is increasingly erratic and unpredictable.
I also think 9-9-9 is too disruptive, and as the details are revealed, it looks more complicated and less desirable. And it just doesn’t look serious (see my point about how he expected it to pass into law next month through the supercommittee).
But he certainly appears to be a good conservative, and so I hold out hope for him, especially if Perry can’t get his bearings.