Posted on 08/11/2011 8:38:05 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Texas Governor Rick Perry will upend the Republican presidential primary with his entry this weekend, CNN’s latest national poll shows. He starts off in a virtual tie with Mitt Romney, 17/15, with his nearest competitors at 12%. Perhaps most surprisingly, Michele Bachmann isn’t among them — and her support gets cut almost in half with Perry’s candidacy:
According to a CNN/ORC International poll, 15 percent of Republicans and independents who lean towards the GOP pick Perry as their first choice for their party’s nomination, just two points behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who’s making his second bid for the White House. Romney’s two point margin over Perry is within the survey’s sampling error.
The poll’s Thursday release comes two days before Perry gives a speech at a major conservative gathering in South Carolina where his staff has indicated he will make his intentions for a presidential run clear. Later in the day Perry travels to New Hampshire to meet with GOP lawmakers, activists, and voters. Perry’s travels Saturday come as the rest of the political spotlight will be shining on Iowa, for a crucial presidential straw poll in Ames. Perry heads to Iowa Sunday to speak at a Republican party gathering, which means he will visit three of the crucial early voting primary and caucus states this weekend.
The survey indicates that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who is making his third bid for the White House, are at 12 percent apiece. While both Giuliani, who ran for the presidency four years ago, and Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, have flirted with bids, neither has taken concrete steps towards launching a campaign.
Three weeks ago, Perry scored 14% but Giuliani, Palin, and Bachmann all scored 13% or 12%. Now Bachmann has dropped to 7%, a fall of five points and the biggest decline in the field for the period. Ron Paul has picked up four points to surpass her and join Giuliani and Palin in a three-way tie for third place.
Bachmann isn’t the only candidate trending downward, but the rest are in the second tier. Herman Cain dropped two points to 4%, while Tim Pawlenty dropped one to come in at 2%. Both of these candidates need breakout performances in Iowa, which was well known before this week. If CNN’s series is not an outlier, Bachmann may need one as well, now that Perry has come closer to tossing his hat in the ring. She has been wowing crowds in Iowa this week in advance of the debate and straw poll, so she is doing all she can on the ground, but that may not be enough — at least not this week.
Time Magazine’s Mark Halperin interviewed Perry this week about his plans:
Well, you’re not going to get anywhere with “leaders” who don’t even understand the first purpose of government.
Name one federal program or agency that Rick Perry advocates for elimination.
Shoot, name one that he has publicly said that he thinks is outside the Enumerated Powers.
It’s not the Leaders that are the problem. It is a segment of stupid idiots in the voting public that are needed to win elections i.e.; moderates.
Wrong. The problem is with those who call themselves “conservative” with their lips but whose actions don’t correspond when it comes to vetting candidates or governing.
Where is that happening? Perry has been getting a thorough bashing and critique here at FR. The only thing he hasn’t been called is Mittens stalking horse. I’m sure that will happen after he announces. As far as I can see, Perry is very Conservative on social issues and has legislated that way. That qualifies him for running in my book.
I am not supporting this guy. I just think the irrational slamming on this Perry is unfounded based on a lot of his work. I don’t see RINO here. Even Reagan had some shaky stuff on his record when he was Gov. Remember California’s 1967 Therapeutic Abortion Act? Perry has nothing like that on his plate.
Perry = Not Palin
Therefore Perry = RINO
It sure seems to be shaping up that way. Who would have thought?
It will be interesting to see what happens if both Palin and Perry run. Might see another giant purge.
As far as any news reports I have seen, Perry and Palin get along quite well and like each other. It will be interesting on many levels.
Rudy Giuliana is his BFF and yes he endorsed him.
So the guy who agrees w/President Fox that we should have open borders IS NOT a RINO????
What is wrong with you?
Guess what. Every single candidate on the GOP side in ‘08 was a loser. Plenty of people endorsed someone in that Primary. What were you going to do? Perry picked Rudy. DeMint pick Mittens. Is DeMint a RINO too now?
If Demint was open borders, mandated vaccines, used tax payer funds to pay illegals’ education, and passed legislation based on donations from huge companies, then YES.....he’d be a RINO too....
Open borders? Last I read, he is calling for troops on the border.
So who is the paragon of Conservative values you are supporting? I need to know the benchmark I am arguing against.
Demint supported Romney in 2008.
Sarah will endorse Rick and that will put an end to Mitt Obama’s quest for the presidency.
NO Romney bump!
That is such ridiculous logic especially considering Sarah will endorse him.
EV is a bigtime Alan Keyes supporter.
According to this poll, Bachmann is already toast. She is a sure loser.
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