You grossly exaggerate the influence of debates on primary outcomes. They just don’t matter much. Neither does immigration in general, and the tuition business is ridiculously trivial. It is a matter of concern to very few voters, most of whom will gravitate to Perry in the end anyway because the only realistic alternative is much, much worse. Of course it’s easy to see how you might be confused about this because advocating amnesty was fatal to McCain’s campaign in ‘08 — Oh wait . . .
There’s no point in having this argument now. Wait and watch. If I turn out to be wrong you can gloat. But that isn’t likely to happen. I’ve only been wrong about one primary contest in either party since 1968. I thought immigration would kill McCain in ‘08. You’re repeating my one mistake.
In the absence of a new entry, Perry will walk away with this race while the chattering class scratches it’s collective head and mutters “he was so bad in the debates.” Of course he was, but it doesn’t matter. It never matters.
Most major politicians are verbal incompetents, including the incumbent President. For some reason, voters seem to prefer inarticulate candidates. I may not like it, but that doesn’t change the facts.
You can’t beat something with nothing, and so far, there’s nothing in Perry’s path to the nomination. Fulminate all you like, that’s just how it is.
Look: if Perry is the nominee I will get up early that day and vote for him...no question. BUT, there is NO WAY he will do as well as Romney debating Obummer...and that will mean much to the independents, without whom we cannot win.
Well said.