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Subscribe to RSSAUSTIN Texas -- With two more debates under his belt, Texas Gov. Rick Perry travels to South Carolina Sunday for a campaign swing that will very likely amount to hitting his head against a political wall for 13 straight days.
"At least it will be warmer there," some on his staff darkly joke.
But Perry, who is keeping his campaign alive despite a fifth place finish in the Iowa caucuses, is a candidate who has never lost an election, a man whose voice breaks when he relates the stories of young veterans who survived brutal attacks against all odds, a dirt-poor kid whose identity is fundamentally rooted in the unlikeliness of his ascent from a chemistry-flunking country boy to the leader of the 13th largest economy in the world.
He believed there was a chance. He's taking it. Because he always has before, and why not?
Sources familiar with Perry's thinking say when his Iowa failure was unfolding, his South Carolina team reminded the governor that his campaign had the financial resources and the ground game to support a last-ditch campaign whirlwind in the Palmetto State. His family - and members of his veterans' coalition who act as an extended family for the onetime C-130 pilot - encouraged him not to give up the ghost until he'd exhausted all options. There was, Perry was told, no downside to continuing the run other than the perception - shared by all but his most ardent devotees - that he would simply be prolonging the inevitable.
But few - if any - members of his staff on the ground walked out of the West Des Moines Sheraton ballroom on Tuesday night believing that Perry would do anything but exit the race on Thursday in Austin. So when Perry rocked (or at least jiggled) the political world on Wednesday by tweeting his intention to stay in the race, confusion abounded in the ranks of staff still groggy from an emotional evening in the hotel bar swapping memories of a campaign days past.
Perry had spoken to top aide Joe Allbaugh and communications director Ray Sullivan by phone about the decision to stay in, but the message was never communicated to aides on the ground in Iowa. One staffer speculated that the governor's Twitter account had been hacked before finding out through press reports that the abandoned South Carolina barnstorm was back on.
Those close to Perry laugh off conspiracy theories that the governor's decision to stay in the presidential contest is somehow designed as a spoiler to elevate Mitt Romney. Perry's personal friction with the former Massachusetts governor's dates back to their overlap at the Republican Governors' Association, and there's no reason to suspect that the brutal last five months has soothed Perry's views of his rival as a wad of political Play-Doh.
Apparent impulsivity - and the deployment of a political vision hazy in the eyes of everyone except for himself - has worked for the governor before.
His decision to run for re-election in 2010, which came as a seemingly off-the-cuff remark at the conclusion of a press scrum, caught his Texas allies by surprise, but Perry marched on to a staggering victory in November. Last year, Perry appeared to have shut and bolted the door on a presidential run, only to bring back his closest advisers from Newt Gingrich's then-crumbling campaign to rocket into front-runner status when he finally entered the race in August.
Perry's calculus this time is based almost completely on the past volatility of the GOP field, which has seen each of its candidates - with the exception of Romney - experience increasingly shorter half-lives at the top of the polls. A perfect storm would require the collapse of both a kamikaze Gingrich who sacrifices the appeal of his "positive campaign" in the attempt to deliver a body blow to Romney and a dizzied Santorum who withers under scrutiny.
In that scenario, Perry - who can point to his national organization and onetime impressive fundraising numbers - would play the role of Lazarus to social conservatives on the brink of despairingly supporting Romney.
The strategy will require not only luck, but also a nimble and united team to respond quickly to attacks and rally supporters for one more foray into the breach.
Which might be the variable Perry hasn't considered.
As sharply illustrated by the content and fallout from a Politico piece published just days before the Iowa caucus, the relationship between Perry's original Texas team and the outside consultants who are largely steering the campaign now is characterized by mistrust and hurt feelings.
So can he do it?
Not impossible. But it would take luck, leadership, and a Texas miracle.
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Dead man walking? I think it should be DEADHEAD walking!! Then of course you'd have state which deadhead, Perry, Santorum, Romney, Gingrich ,Paul.
If Perry still has a viable campaign, one would expect at least a few of his supporters to weigh in here; the silence is deafening.
Steve Eldridge The reality is that the federal government has 297K fewer employees than Ronald Reagan.
This could possibly be true because so many jobs for the Government are contracted out and those employees do not show up as government employees but the tax payer is still on the hook to pay for that contractor. Our local power company does this same thing and the contractor can pay much lower wages and pocket the rest.
Everything said about Perry is true but them there job creators need more tax breakes. I'd like to know whats in the tea the party of NO is drinking
This brain-dead repug teabagger is too stupid not to know when to stop. Go back to your ranch and watch the paint dry, just like W did.
Perry is nothing but a nut case unable to recognize that the nation has no appetite for a ideologue that think world evolves around him.
The only miracle will be when he and at least one other like him stop polluting the GOP race.
Well, Rick you go West from SC and keep following the foul odor and you'll know you have found Texas once you step in it.
My relatives who live in Texas are glad Ricky is campaigning out of state. That means he isn't in Texas and thus can't screw up as much. They don't understand how their neighbors voted for GW Bush or Rick Perry. What the heck is wrong with Texas?
Even if Gingrich and Santorum drop back to single digits, that support will migrate to Romney, not Perry. Perry's problems have nothing to do with the composition of the race and everything to do with the fact that he does not understand the issues, cannot come up with a coherent policy proposal, has dug in with the most extreme and unpopular segment of the electorate (ultra-right-wing religious fundamentalists), has been a willing pawn and beneficiary of rampant lobbyist corruption, and reveals himself to be mentally incapable of even answering a question, let alone leading the free world, every time he opens his mouth in a non-scripted environment.
I was sure Rick Perry was going to win it all. I just didn't count on how Perry can't string 3 thoughts together and remember the last one.
It makes you wonder how such a bumbling cowboy ever got to be governor.
Speaking of bumbling idiots, only the rich stand to gain from Cain's 999 plan. Who do you think this bus tour is for if not the Koch brothers?
The intelligence bar for Republican governors is clearly not set very high. See Bush, George W.; Palin, Sarah; Brewer, Janice. I am sure there are other examples, but these are three recent ones that come quickly to mind. Perry's dumb, but not much of an outlier among that group.
He's so delusional.
We've already had a brain-dead, warmongering bigot from Texas as president. All it got us was the Second Great Depression. We need a candidate who will make things better, not worse. And Perry is not that candidate.
Perry's the kind of guy who will start WWIII because he hears God's voice in his head. Blech.
Let's just face it. Rick Perry most likely is the kinda guy we'd all like to have a beer with. He's a truly likable and seemingly compassionate guy. (He's even showing compassion—for the victim, allegedly—when he throws the switch at an execution.)
But Rick is a perfect example of the Peter Principle—he was promoted to his level of incompetence when he was elected governor of Texas.
OOOH!! A miracle. God is going to help! What nonsense.
Rick Perry is spending someone elses money. He gets a paycheck whether he is in Texas or South Carolina. Some rich oilmen and the friends of the Bushes thought that this country was stupid enough to let a mental midget run the country, and have bankrolled him just like they did W. Well, we did it once, no we did it twice, that's right, so it is logical that we are that stupid. So what would he do with the war chest if he didn't exhaust it? As far as his bringing jobs to Texas, let me tell you what is bringing jobs to texas: It is mostly companies moving their corporate offices closer to their manufacturing plants in Mexico. That is what he is taking credit for.
Miracle??? Maybe if he gets on his knees and prays to the god of conservatives (business and money) he will win. He is a disgusting piece of cr*p! Yet he is not alone in that bunch of losers. Let's see... a couple of liars, a rich man posing as the "blue collar" guy and oh yes, the Newt that committed adultery with the blond bimbo and then found Jesus. Maybe he was in her pants? Grover Norquest must be so happy!
Sure Rick -- you're going to come on strong in SC --- jut like I'm going to win PowerBall next month -- twice.
I suppose anything can happen in that backward azz state.
It would be nice if both he and Haley got their states to secede from the US. The idiot needs to return to his drought ridden state and the fools that elected him twice.
The Air Force pilots that fly C130's, are the one's that scored the lowest grade point. Perry and the rest will be sweet talking with the tea party in South Carolina. That's where the tea party headquarters are located. After the debate, the Americans will fiqure it all out. That none of these clowns are for the 99% of Americans.
President Obama (2012)
"Dead Man Walking" ---- Couldn't ask for a more accurate head line
Was a dumb ass Texan when he started and will be a dumb ass Texan when he's finished. Dumb ass not necessarily referring to his actual intelligence, but related more "good ole boy" nonsense. Texas culture does not translate to rest of US real well. He managed to bull@!$%# his way through his political career in Texas and people apparently bought in. When on the national stage, people are less apt to be attracted to the folksy, non substantaive garbage that spews forth from a lot of the people in this part of the world. Layer over this Bush 2 was not the brightest bulb on the tree and Perry would probably be best served by going home before he damages his image and reputation any more.
Emil
whew, the hatred for texas is tangible
....but then the hatred for what obama has done to america is as well.
i think who ever hates the most will win.
sad.
So Texans hate Californians, I have read it here. But what is weird, I am sitting on the freeway and there are 10 Texas plates surrounding my. Could it be the economy in California is better and you are moving here to take California jobs? Stay away. We don't want your ilk here poisoning us. We should make sure you are a resident of California before you can work here.
Just a little food for thought. From what I understand Rick Perry was invited to and attended last year's Bilderberger meeting.
Okay. So what?
Barrack Obama was invited to that meeting the year prior to declaring himself a candidate.
George Bush did the same.
Bill Clinton also.
Prior to that I don't know. Does this mean anything? Don't know that either.
But it is curious... Here's a man who appeared ready to pull the plug after Iowa, but following perhaps just enough time for a few phone calls jumped back in. Interesting...
e would not have to hear from his frothing rabid mouth that would be better on a arrss.
If this boob gets a miracle will that make him Saint Rick?
Cannot help but notice the chatter here. I do not feel that Perry is who the beef is really with but rather over Bush. Ok, so he came from Texas also-I can guarantee you that had Loonie Toonie Al Gore was in office or even Omama Bama that we would not be the strong nation we are today. YET, I am witnessing for the 2nd time the reduction of our military at possibly the all time high ALERT that we should not even wink at a reduction. Our military bases are at their highest alert that we have seen in some time. I recall another loser President name Carter that also was facing Iranian situation and he sent a team of soldiers to rescue hostages and failed-mainly because we had not taken into account the sand stirring up and sucking into the helos, etc causing them to crash and veer into the props of the c-130s this causing a self made massacre. It finally took a vibrant President named Reagan who basicaslly let Iran know thast our hostages better be release when he took oath of office or else bombers would be bombing the HELL out of their country! Guess what that was the language they only understand over there!!! We need such a leader-NOW. SOOOO Bush was smart enough to send the war overseas to THEIR homes and neighborhood and not wait for it to come here again. Notice that every war basically that is fought in the agressors homeland usually is lost by them-ie-germany, japan, korea(until Truman mad our soldier withdraw from Chinese border back to 38th Parallel(yes our soldiers had pushed all the way to Chinese border!!) Truman to show insecurity/inferiority to MacArthur made us back down! Perry has been a great gov for Texas-he has not allowed taxes, state income taxes, etc(what has mostly devestated most of you bleeding hearts states!!! Yes, some jobs were low paying-same as in your state if you have wal mart, etcs. Oil field jobs dangerous but one CAN raise a family on its salaries. Perry, has by and large been a man of HIS words in Texas! Do I agree with all that he has done NO-and you be a flat out idiot if you did your GOV. What has your GOV done for your state??? Except bow to Omama Bama?? Texas DID not take any federal money when Omama was giving it out! Why-because of the strings attached to it! Wanting to get our country on the right trasck-elect a leader that actually did good while running your state not becoming more of a millionaire from inside pork! So, if Bush was not from Texas most of you would not have anything to bash!!!! Now, let me ask you a question-say we did not have Bush for those 8 years and had crybaby GORE-after all he would have been a good leader-after all he invented the internet?? Also invented chad elections-via Daley(ballet boxes were stuff with Chicago leading but not enough to win! We would still be talking about what to do-the only investments that Gore has increased is Carbon Tax(buying land in So. America to replace what we use!!!???? Any of you bother to read of the NEW criminals he created-people that have lived there(So. America) all their lives are criminalized trying to raise their families on land they maintained and cared for for generations!! SO, please show me a LEADER who can lead(not just look imaculate on TV and speak eloquently)! Perry has been in military rank of CAPTAIN-Romney a what?? So, if you are unemployed, down and out-there are companies advertizing for qualified help right now-welders, fabricators, assemblers-in Cisco, texas-today! Call chamber of commerce in Cisco-small town, very dry due to drought-but if you can handle it job is a waiting-also no felons, no dope heads, no drunkards, etc. We only want hard working honest people not looking for handouts-p.s. company offers up to 75 hours of work a week if YOU want it! Does your state have anything like that-I did not think so! My 2 cents worth!
You can't possibly be serious...
The delusional rant WAS amusing though. Thanks..
I don't know what you've been smoking, pal, but if you like Perry so much, better start passing it around in South Carolina. It's going to take more than a miracle to get him back on the radar.
Stopped reading mid-way through the first sentence.
you people who still believe in this 'change' bs are the ones smokin'
it pal! Perry would be better than OBOMBO on his worst day and that
ain't saying much cause I don't like Perry! i'd vote for any conservative
over this radical progressive socialist dictator!
Oh, but you'll subscribe to the "change" that the GOP candiates are pushing, eh? Pay attention to Perry, Ervin - he's simply pandering to the right wing lunatic fringe.