Posted on 01/04/2012 10:50:05 AM PST by wk4bush2004
Gov. Rick Perry said today he will continue his presidential campaign despite a fifth-place showing in the Tuesday Iowa caucuses and serious questions about whether he can continue. “I re-assessed,” Perry said as he left his West Des Moines hotel at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. “We’re headed to New Hampshire and South Carolina.” Perry surprised the political world - and many of his advisers - when he Tweeted this morning that he would stay in the race. His Tweet included a photo from his morning jog.
“I was out on the trail when it kind of came to me,” Perry said.
Perry has scrapped campaign events over the next couple of days in South Carolina but will take part in two weekend debates in New Hampshire. He is unlikely to do well in New Hampshire’s primary next week, so he will instead focus on South Carolina’s Jan. 21 primary.
“It’s clearly there,” Perry said. “South Carolina is a place where I feel very comfortable that the values and the people and the time that we spent there. We’re going to give the people of South Carolina, New Hampshire and America a choice in this election.”
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
“I was out on the trail when it kind of came to me,” Perry said.
Ever noticed that when the University of Texas plays, they’ve got dozens/hundreds of people in the stands dressed just like Roy Rogers?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcYsO890YJY
“Call me crazy but I just gave more money to Rick Perry and in my whole life I have never given money to any candidate for any office.”
You are perfectly sane, he’s a contender. I don’t want to see him drop out unless he continues in 4th/5th through NH, SC, and FL.
Until then, let’s see.
Rick Perry will play very well in South Carolina and Florida, home to millions of active and retired military families. He is the only veteran in the race (can’t count R. Paul since he will be out before then).
Hopefully not one Rick wanted to eliminate.
Not being on Va., ballot and possibly excluded from the SC debate will be a burden on him.
He knew that, but that possible phone call is keeping him in.
We're just getting started, this is not the end.
With Perry's ability to raise funds, he may be able to starve out either Newt or Santorum. Who knows?
Polls showed both Cain and Gingrich with 3-6% support for good chunks of the cycle. Looking at a poll now and trying to predict future performance just never works. There’s no reason not to believe the Christian conservative voters, which were previously hesitant to commit, will now swing to Santorum.
Good going, Perry. You just ensured that the conservative vote will be split in South Carolina, thereby handing the state to Mittens. Thanks a lot, pal.
Another in a long list of mis-steps by Perry that pretty much insure that he will not be making major comeback.
Even Rush Limbaugh sounded baffled about this decision.
If I had to bet, I would say Romney made contact and an under-the-table-deal...
Perry keeps the Conservative vote divided as much as possible while attacking Santorum and Gingrich but not attacking Romney.
Then Perry gets the VP nod from Romney, or perhaps Secretary of State or CIA.
Like Rush, I am happy he is staying in. Lots yet to come, folks.
Ron Paul usually does better in Iowa than anywhere else also.
Really? I have been listening to him and did not catch that.
Another in a long list of mis-steps by Perry that pretty much insure that he will not be making major comeback.
...bbut..., there's still gas in the bus and comeback stickers to pass out...
Absolutely.
I don’t know what Rush you are listening to.
Rush talked about how when a candidate retires to assess his options - that always meant dropping out, but not with Perry. Rush also said Perry seemed willing to accept campaign debt while Bachmann was not.
Rush did say he was happy Perry was staying in. That was a single sentence. Rush spent more time sounding baffled as to how or why.
Why shouldn’t Perry continue on? He should do better in SC than Iowa and why should we be calling this nomination process over after the first caucus?
We’re just getting started, this is not the end.
With Perry’s ability to raise funds, he may be able to starve out either Newt or Santorum. Who knows?
With Perry’s ability to raise funds, and, in my fairly experienced eyes at least, one of the better teams making political ads in the business, he has a good chance of totally demolishing Romney’s credibility.
I am betting there were phone calls last night - between Gingrich, Santorum and Perry.
Very pleased he decided to stay in and not quit.
R Paul will not leave this race no matter how low he is polling. He’s in it to intentionally agitate.
There is plenty of time for quitting. Bachmann dropped out today. Who knows what may happen after SC?
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