It would have been far better if Perry had announced the strategy ahead of time.
I think I just heard that there’s something like 16 debates before the primaries actually begin. They are a joke so much that Dennis Miller is calling them “Survivor: vote someone off the island.” (Obama then steals that line.)
IOW, there are TOO many of the silly Q&A’s giving liberals a chance to keep the race in turmoil.
The correct thing for the election is to cut that number in half for ALL candidates.
In the meantime, Obama learned from the last election that the potus can’t sit idle and allow the candidates to continually potshot the president, so he has actively begun his campaign.
Too many debates will give him endless opportunity to ridicule conservatives.
I think Perry is right in this. These debates are becoming a distraction rather than an aid. I would think that Cain and Gingrich would also see the truth of this rejection of too many debates.
Or less.
The problem with the "dog and pony shows" is lesser candidates are put on equal footing with stronger candidates. The reason there are stronger candidates is that they have built up over time experience, organization and financial support. Right now we are seeing a lot of people get very excited about candidates that are long shots at best to beat obama.
One example of this is Newt Gingrich. He has not been able to raise enough money to keep a top shelf campaign staff with him. He is rising in the polls because he's so good in this forum. However, have we all forgotten how he has disappointed conservatives so many times? Have we forgotten the terrible mistakes he's made in his personal life?
Another example is Herman Cain. He is the darling of the media and a lot of FReepers right now. He has done well in the debates, but he has no organization to speak of and has limited funds. Also, he has given the opposition all kinds of material to use against him because of his inability to coherently express his position on any issue. One question about Herman Cain that has not been answered is why he doesn't seem to have big support among the business community? Bundlers of huge funds such as the Home Depot group have steered clear of him even though Cain should have a better knowledge of how govt is killing free enterprise then most of the candidates.
I think the problem for Perry in pulling out of the debates is he will never hear the end of it from the media and it will be a drag on his campaign. He really is in a no win situation. If he debates he is attacked by the Romney sycophants and only gets loaded questions. If he doesn't debate he is accused of running away.
Perry has a great team around him and his TV advt. looks great. I think his organization and TV advt. are going to get him back to the top, but he will have to articulate a great reason for not debating.