“8% is a surge?”
This is a 5-day rolling average.
The Santosurge is real and it’s happening everywhere.
Perry surprises staff, stays in race
By: Jonathan Martin
January 4, 2012 12:33 PM EST
Surprising some members of his own staff, Rick Perry announced via Twitter on Wednesday morning that he will stay in the GOP presidential race despite a disappointing finish in Iowa.
“And the next leg of the marathon is the Palmetto State … Here we come South Carolina!!!” Perry tweeted just after 11 a.m. EST from his personal account, linking to a picture of him in Texas A&M jogging shorts giving a thumbs-up.
Perry campaign manager Joe Allbaugh confirmed to POLITICO that the governor is going forward.
“Staying,” Allbaugh wrote in an email when asked whether Perry is remaining in the race.
A source close to Perry said the Texas governor decided to make a stand in South Carolina because “he is not a quitter and really is the only true conservative in the race.”
“Records matter; start comparing,” the source said.
Perry spokesman Mark Miner said Perry would stay in Texas until Friday, at which point he’ll head to New Hampshire and participate in the two debates there this weekend. The candidate will then go to South Carolina.
Perry’s decision to campaign in South Carolina is a major blow to Rick Santorum’s hopes of consolidating conservatives behind his candidacy. If Perry and Newt Gingrich are still in the GOP race when it heads south on Jan. 21, the base will likely be divided among conservatives.