Perry Regains His Footing at IFFC [Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition] Event

The Iowa Republican | October 24, 2011 | Craig Robinson

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s presidential forum unofficially marked a critical time for candidates in Iowa to start sealing the deal with Iowa’s ample number of social conservatives. It’s hard to say that some candidates won, while others lost. For the most part, all the candidates did well. Some just stood out more than others.

For an event that attracted scores of media and six presidential candidates, the most important people in the room were the activists who sat through the five-hour event. The Super Bowl takes less time if you don’t count parking, but even that event allows those in attendance to stretch their legs at halftime. That wasn’t the case on Saturday night.

In talking to a number of people after the event, the winners event were Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum. Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann did well too, but the other three shined. Herman Cain on the other hand was a disappointment.

Ordering the top three is difficult. I was looking for more than just which candidate could strike a chord with the audience. I was considering what each candidate needed to get of the event politically, which is incredibly important with the caucuses less than three months away.

Here is how I rank it. If you disagree, the comment section is all yours.

1. Rick Perry

Texas Governor Rick Perry did exactly what he needed to do on Saturday night. Perry looked and sounded like the conservative candidate many were excited about when he entered the race back in August. Gone was the unpolished candidate who we have come to know in the debates, and in his place was a relaxed, confident candidate who commanded the stage. Facing a roomful of more than 1000 social conservatives, the question that Perry needed to address was whether or not he was one of them. He gave the audience plenty of reasons to believe that they have a lot in common.

Perry did two things in his speech that were incredibly important. He touted his long list of pro-life, pro-family accomplishments as governor, but maybe more importantly, he shared his own personal testimony. As Perry bared his soul to the audience, the room fell silent. It was at that point that Perry captivated those in the room.

Perry’s pro-life accomplishments, including defunding Planned Parenthood, passing a parental consent law, and requiring women in Texas who are seeking abortions to have a sonogram, are impressive, but it was his personal testimony on Saturday night that may change Perry’s fortunes in Iowa because it will help build trust with social conservatives across the state.

Unlike the rest of candidates, Perry didn’t shrink away for taking issue with Herman Cain’s recent flubbing on the issue of abortion. Perry didn’t mention Cain’s name, but everyone knew whom he was talking about when he said, “It is a liberal canard to say I am personally pro-life, but government should stay out of that decision. If that is your view, you are not pro-life.”

Perry was the clear winner on Saturday night because he accomplished everything he needed to do.

Promote his pro-life, pro-family record: CHECK
Convince the audience that you are an authentic social conservative: CHECK
Make a personal connection with the people in the room: CHECK
Capitalize on your opponent’s recent problems: CHECK
Define yourself instead of letting your opponents or the media do it: CHECK

I’d have a spring in my step today if I was the Perry campaign in Iowa. Again, this was the candidate that many were expecting when he entered the race.

2. Newt Gingrich.......Continues

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[Rick Perry Speech and Q&A at Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition] October 21, 2011

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Mitt was a no-show:

Romney's Trouble With Truth Extends Beyond Illegal Lawn Care Employees

[shield]

Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

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[jgge]

Perry as three times governor of the second most populous state in the Union has actually acted pro-life and not just talked pro-life.

[Tribune7]

bump

[normy]

CW, could you post the link to the speech at the IFFC? I would ask all Freepers to avoid the vitriol in this forum and watch the speech.

Our job is too evaluate all the candidates on our own. Taking someones word on FR is irresponsible or letting a candidates supporter turn you off to a candidate is also petty.

If you walk away still disappointed fine, but at least you'll know.

[Diogenesis]

Regain footing?
Nonsense.

Rick Perry acts the FOOL when he goes after Mr. Cain.

If Mr. Perry wants a chance, then he must be a
CONSERVATIVE and go after the RINOs and political
cross dressers (Romney and other proObama RINOs).

It is not about CONVINCING the audience that Rick Perry
is a CONSERVATIVE (especially given obvious his open border
philosophy and PerryCARE in the past),
it is about Mr. Perry finally BEING CONSERVATIVE (if he is).

[dforest]

Kind of sad he didn’t extend parental consent and family values to his imposition of Gardasil.

[jgge]

Actually it is Perry who is the only one going in any meaningful way against Romney and Romney is solely focusing all his rage and attacks on Perry. Where are Herman Cain meaningful attacks on Romney? Where are Romney meaningful attacks on Cain? According to the polls these two, Romney and Cain, are neck to neck but none is attacking the other. This tells us a lot about both of them.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

First, you are not to be taken seriously as you are LYING about Perry's "open borders" policy. You cannot make a valid point without lying.

Cain certainly isn't going after Romney and so far, Perry is the only one going after Romney.

I do not understand the hatred toward Perry here on FR. Worry about promoting your guy and stop lying about Perry.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Maybe it’s time for ALL states to remove ALL vaccine mandates. Let’s be consistent.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

CW, could you post the link to the speech at the IFFC?

CLICK on Perry's photo in Post #1.

I see this news story has been removed from "news" and put into "bloggers."

[normy]

You have to ignore that post. You'll get no where with that poster. It's emotional not rational. Perry is expected to do thing other are not. Supposedly Cain and anyone else deemed untouchable can't be scrutinized in the least and whatever they say, they can just say they were joking or confused and it's all ok.

We're voting for President here.

[normy]

Thanks.

[shield]

bfl

[hocndoc]

He did extend parental consent to Gardasil.
Read the “Parental Rights” portion:
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/executive-order/3455/

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

I do not understand the outright hatred toward Perry. It doesn’t even seem rational—it’s all emotional and it seems very sincere.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Actually it is Perry who is the only one going in any meaningful way against Romney and.....

Exactly. Because Romney can't be the GOP nominee and Perry is the anti-Romney.

[MestaMachine]

“Unlike the rest of candidates, Perry didn’t shrink away for taking issue with Herman Cain’s recent flubbing on the issue of abortion. Perry didn’t mention Cain’s name, but everyone knew whom he was talking about when he said, ‘It is a liberal canard to say I am personally pro-life, but government should stay out of that decision. If that is your view, you are not pro-life.’”

[cripplecreek]

We’ll see if he brings in his national council of socialist churches La Raza Loving pals.