Rick Perry's pouring it on in Iowa, seeking to rebound

The Kansas City Star ^ | November 23, 2011 | DAVE MONTGOMERY

[casinva]

Just a few minutes earlier, he was standing in front of plant workers in eastern Iowa, vowing to shake up Washington by creating a part-time Congress, ending lifetime appointments for federal judges and shuttering dysfunctional agencies.

Now, speech concluded, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is seated on the edge of a platform on the factory floor, scrolling through his smartphone to show 5-year-old Izzie Insisiengmay photos of the Perry family dogs.

Izzie is way too young to vote. But her mom, standing nearby, is a strong bet to attend the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses. For the moment, Stacey Insisiengmay of Davenport is undecided. But after watching the gregarious 61-year-old Texas governor, she says, "I like him so far."

That moment inside the Schebler plant on the banks of the upper Mississippi River illustrates one of Perry's inherent political strengths: his ability to connect with people. Campaign professionals call it retail politics. And Perry will need all he can deliver - plus much more - to rescue his foundering campaign for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

snip

The formula for a potential Perry comeback in the Hawkeye State includes a strong on-the-ground political organization, relentless television advertising, a message tailored to Iowa's farm-belt conservatives and stepped-up appearances by Perry to get him in front of as many voters as possible. Eye-catching policy proposals - including his proposed Washington reforms and his call for a 20 percent optional flat tax - are also part of the mix.

One hopeful sign for Perry is the fact that many likely caucus-goers haven't firmly committed to any candidate. Bloomberg's poll found that 60 percent of those surveyed could be persuaded to back someone other than their top choice. Ten percent were undecided.

More at link.

[casinva]

The ultimate fate of the campaign rests with the man in the driver's seat.

[casinva]

Ping please.

[ken5050]

Perry is so comfortable in his own skin...no pretense..no artifice...and I think the voters will get a sense of that...

Iowa may actually decide nothing this year.. If you get FOUR candidates with 15-25% of the vote..well...

[shield]

Perry Ping....

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Per SD
This is just how Rick Perry is. After Hurricane Ike devastated my community, he came here to survey the damage. He did not just walk through here surrounded by security and news cameras and then make a speech. That's not Perry. He showed up in jeans and a work shirt, no cameras, no press conference, and he walked among all of us who had been hit. A hug, a pat on the shoulder, a listening ear, and an encouraging word. He saw to it that emergency shelters were being set up and food and water were available to everyone. When Obama/FEMA refused to help us, Governor Perry set up state funding to help us rebuild our homes and our lives. My home is at 'ground zero' where Ike came ashore. We all took tremendous damage. FEMA sent me a check two months later for $600 dollars. Governor Perry set up the Recovery Fund to help us all rebuild. That is what a true leader and a true Christian does. That's my Governor! I can't wait to see America under the caring wing of Rick Perry.

[txrangerette]

That is true...even in saying “Ooops” to his own mental block on the third Fed agency he’d close.

A laughable response, yes, but telling. He was putting the target on his own back...my only response is, uh oh, I’ve blown this one.

In the debate spin room instead of spinning he said, “good thing I’m wearing boots, because I stepped in it bigtime”.

[bigdirty]

I will say about Perry that even though he isn’t great, he isn’t the worst candidate by far. Mitt and Newt are much, much worse.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Media companies should be pleased.

[Tax-chick]

I’m pleased to see this. I’m tired of all the articles claiming the candidate is already chosen when there hasn’t been a single vote taken ... not even a poor substitute for a primary, as in Iowa. I want all the candidates to stick to their guns and let the voters make a decision.

[Norseman]

And I think Gingrich’s statement that he would defend his stance on handling illegal aliens who’d been in the country for years will also help Perry (by taking away the issue in deciding between them.)

If it comes down to Cain/Perry/Gingrich as the ABR (anyone-but-romney) candidate, as it appears to be doing, Perry could experience the comeback that Gingrich did, especially now that Gingrich is getting closer examination of his own faults.

Personally, I don’t think Cain can handle himself well enough when faced with tough questions, falling back on platitudes too often, and Gingrich will be DC-establishment all over again, so I’d like to see Perry recover some of the ground he lost since his announcement. If he does that, he’ll get more press and better exposure, and might quickly overtake first Cain, then Gingrich.

[PALIN SMITH]

Democrats have been trying to change the rules forever.

Perry is no different.

[tcrlaf]

“Izzie is way too young to vote.”

Not if she registers as a DEMOCRAT in many places....

[Iscool]

What about jobs Perry??? Every week close to a half a million jobs leave the U.S.... Every week...No one will talk about jobs...

[Katarina]

Perry has talked about jobs, written about jobs and has video ads about jobs. He also has talked about it in debates. I guess yo uhave been MIA when it comes to Perry.

Hmmmmmmmm

[Katarina]

If a person is a conservative, there really is only one candidate and that is Rick Perry.

[Hugin]

Perry has talked about jobs, written about jobs and has video ads about jobs. He also has talked about it in debates. I guess yo uhave been MIA when it comes to Perry.

And don't forget most important, has been governmor of a state that has created half the new jobs in the country,

No other candidate has the comgination of solid conservative beliefs, a solid plan, and a solid economic record that Perry has. I am still hopeful he can make a comeback. ALthough I think pushing a pert-time Congress is silly. First Congress is supposed to oversee the Federal government, and that is a full time job. Imagine Obama and Holder having a year and a half with nobody watching them. Second it will never happen anyway. The Congresscritters aren't about to vote away their power and pay.

[Hugin]

I agree with you on everything except I’m a bit more positive about Newt than you are. My first choice would be Perry, but we could do worse than Newt. He’s been wrong on a few things in the past, but he’s done a lot that was good too. And he’s smart enough to recognize when he’s wrong, and honest enough to admit he made a mistake.

[magritte]

Perry bump!

[JulieRNR21]

WOW it looks like someone ‘who’s in the know’ agree with you.

Have you seen this quote from Ari Fleischer CNN:

“I don’t understand this election at all, Republicans always go for the most Conservative guy running, in this case Rick Perry, i mean he has been throwing them red meat, but for whatever strange reason, this election they seem to be drawn to the most un-Republican guys running, like Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, and i don’t think that plays to their strength, I think it plays to Obama’s strength, and I think the White House is loving it.”

[Inspectorette]

I am still hopeful he can make a comeback.

I'm hoping too. He is definitely the most qualified of all of the candidates on that stage. The fact that he served in the military is a biggie for me too - there's no doubt that he loves his country.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

He's got the look but unfortunately he doesn't have the lip.