Perry is only down 10 points under all the hype over the past 3 weeks. But he is far from done. He is at his best when he is down. He knows how to connect with people, much like Reagan did.
The debates rule the first few months of the election season, but the red meat of the race has not yet begun.
That is why I would not be so quick to count him out. The man is very well funded and has an exceptionally strong political/election history.
He will, however, have difficulty in reaching out to the “heartless,” that is, those who vote in the primaries.
Been there ... done that ... don't want to do it again.