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WASHINGTON, Iowa -- In his first targeted attack against the recently surging Rick Santorum, Rick Perry on Thursday labeled the former Pennsylvania senator a "prolific earmarker" who "loaded up on Pennsylvania pork" during his time in Congress.
Appearing at a coffee shop in Washington, IA, the Texas governor took direct aim at his rival's spending record less than 24 hours after a new TIME/CNN/ORC Iowa poll showed Santorum jumping into third place, with Perry stalled at fifth among GOP contenders.
"Rick Santorum is a friend," he said. "I've got great respect for him, but when he talks about fiscal conservativism every now and then it kinda leaves me scratching my head, because he was a prolific earmarker."
"You know I love Iowa pork but I hate Washington pork," Perry said to laughter from the crowd of about 50. "And Sen. Santorum, he loaded up his bills with Pennsylvania pork. And he even voted for the Alaska Bridge to Nowhere."
Perry then read a quote from a Santorum appearance on Fox News in February 2009 in which the former senator said "I'm very proud of all of my earmarks... I will defend earmarks."
"Senator Santorum I'm going to give you that opportunity to defend your earmarks," Perry added. "Because earmarks are the gateway drug to the spending problem that they have in Washington DC."
A radio ad echoing the same critique hit Iowa airwaves this morning, according to the campaign.
While Perry previously has lumped Santorum with other candidates whose tenure in Washington make them 'insiders," today's attack is the first shot directed squarely at him alone.
The news of Perry's continued idling in Iowa polls yesterday raises further questions about whether or not the Texas governor will push on to South Carolina after the caucuses.
Asked by a reporter today if there's any caucus night scenario in which Perry doesn't continue the race, he responded "Well that's God's will. There might be an outcome that He decides that I wouldn't go on"
"Is God caucusing?" came the followup.
Perry, smiling, replied, "I'm pretty sure He will be.
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they're both dicks.
You're giving them far too much credit.
No one has to endorse anyone. Look at Herman Cain: he merely suspended his campaign without asking his supporters to vote for anyone. They could all support Obama... *cough cough*
Herman Cain....Who?????
Too often do we see people as religiously brainwashed as this guy.
Does he have any of his own thoughts?
Surging Santorum? Sounds disgusting.
Is there any evidence to show that Perry's attacks have an effect on the person being attacked? That there doesn't seem to be any speaks volumes about Rick Perry's influence.
Who am I to judge?
I am the one with the vote! And I will judge as I want to and use the criteria I want to. I also believe in Karma, and when it hits Perry, no God he believes in will be able to stop it. BTW, all of this yak yak is moot, Obama is going to win again, and THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU "CONSERVATIVES" CAN DO TO STOP IT!!!
if Ricky wants to win, shouldn't he be attacking the guy who is actually in 1st place? he probably just doesn't want to forget the 3rd candidate's name
I never thought Perry could even say "prolific".. kind of a "nuclear" melt down in the vocal process of the brain
Funny how repubs went ballastic when rev wright came out with his famous God Damn America but think it's just perfectly normal for two or three of your candidates to act like they have god or jesus on speed dial?
How about we all just leave your gods and jesus and whatever holy spirits you are drinking out of POLITICS??
Just two words for Mr.Perry...go away!
God, I LOVE ole texas ricky !!! Earmarks.. LOL!!! I highly doubt texas ricky knows what an earmark is, much less how they've affected overall spending at the federal level..
The big money boys of southern politics foisted this brain dead clown on the rubes of tex@ss, and thought the little t*rd would float in the toilet bowl of national politics..
Thankfully, the American electorate, collectively, isn't quite THAT stupid.. Not yet anyway...
Impressive he actually finished a sentance.
Face it! This mentally challenged Governor has already crashed and burned following his "deer in the headlights" fop ah in the so-called debates. Move on to the jobs this current congress was supposed to create, and haven't!
One word, folks - ELECTABILITY. Thank God they'll be going away soon.
Rick Perry should give it up....only certain people and groups vote for Perry here in Texas...they like the fact that the Governor is poorly educated and stupid ...I guess he thinks he can pull the same con-job with the rest of the country...sure the only people that voted for Perry here are the same ones that hate an educated population, this is one Texan that should be sent packing...if the voters of the country are smart, they should not elect a Texan to the highest office of the land until Texas cleans up its education system and we rid the state of the cronism attitude, remember the motto "Don't Mess With Texas" I say " Don't elect this Fool from TEXAS"
its sad but none of them is electable, I have problems with ALL of them...Its like someone has opened the loony pin and All of the idiots have been let out....WHERE...are the electable candidates???
is this ALL we have...is this a joke and the real candidates have not entered the race???
If Sarah Palin pops up I will stay at home, I'll know for a fact the country is truly lost...
All the "electable" candidates know that they can't run on a platform of sensibility and reason because the Republican party has been hijacked by the Tea Party - and unless you are willing to sacrafice your first born on the alter of ideology, they will not support you and will actively work to undermine your policies...
Look at how the Tea Party has forced Republicans to even disown policies that they not only supported but passed legislation to enforce...
Perry did not get religious until he decided too run for office...in fact until this year I did'nt know the man went too Church because he's a big crook...he's going after the far-right voters...I guess us moderate do not rate...those of us who are true Christians and understand compromise and working with others is not appealing, strange, if any of these far-right Christians were practicing what Christ really taught the Tea Party would not exist and Rick Perry would have to run for cover...too bad they never understood compromise and doing whats best for the People and the Country....I guess they have too learn the hard way...Its sad to watch a great Party (Republican) implode...we may be looking at the downfall of a party....