Posted on 01/05/2012 1:16:43 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
National conservative leaders are wondering who, if anyone, can stop Mitt Romney from walking off with the Republican nomination after his narrow win in Iowa and his expected comfortable victory in New Hampshire next week. The name that keeps surfacing is Rick Perry, which says a lot about the desperation that the anti-Romney forces are feeling now.
[snip]
Perry insiders say that the plausible course forward for the candidate is to make this a one-on-one race with Mr. Romney so that the conservative vote doesn't split in two, three or four ways.
South Carolina has a history of deciding the eventual GOP primary winner. If Mr. Perry can take first or second place, he can live to fight another day and prepare for Super Tuesday, when voters in the bulk of Southern states go to the polls. Perry supporters also say that a comeback depends on his ability to make this a North versus South race. They say that three-quarters of Republican voters aren't sold on Mr. Romney. The problem for Mr. Perry, of course, is that even more voters aren't sold on him, either, in part because he has done such a lousy job of educating voters about his admirable record on jobs and growth in Texas.
Many conservative leaders that I talked to after the Iowa caucuses are rallying around the latest flash, Rick Santorum. But others have concluded that despite all of his debate mishaps and his poorly run campaign thus far, Mr. Perry may be the only Republican candidate capable of beating Mr. Romney. As one campaign aide told me: "We have to make a good second impression."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
September 23, 2011: Over an hour of discussion - a normal conversation - not "gotcha" or high-octane, political talking points.
economy
education
balanced budget
drilling
regulations
debates
Romney Care
in-state tuition
HPV shot
border security
Barack Obama
Federal mandates
no pandering for votes
terrorists using U.S. Mexican border
immigration reform
no Fed Dream Act or amnesty
AZ law
work-visa program
examine what our national work force needs are
jobs in Texas - full picture
free-trade
manufacturing in China vs U.S.
wages hurt by the cost of doing business - onerous regulations
Texas right to work state but he's always been endorsed by Teamsters Union (jobs)
multi-national companies (U.S.)
jobs, spending, taxes, regulations
trade laws and tariffs
subsides and tax credits
energy and market place
taxes and lobbyists
Marcus Luttrell
family decision re presidential run
Parade interview "birther" "news"
Afghanistan -- special ops war, troops, Obama policy, war on terror, more funding for technology and R&D
Foreign policy dependent on our economic strength
debating Obama
campaign commitment in NH
review candidates' track record
roughness of campaign -- in to win -- facts can be hard-hitting
Social Security, jobs, national security, being truthful
discusses education, EPA, Energy, HHS
states rights
state transportation infrastructure
ObamaCare, medicare, medicaid, healthcare
Tom Cobrun, Bobby Jindal, Paul Ryan
health care insurance - state by state
health care in Texas, access, tort reform
judges, Supreme Court, federal courts
baseball
As much as I would like to hope otherwise, the answer to this question is NO (that is at least for 2012).
GO NEWT GO......
FReeper “dirtboy” said I should highlight Rick Perry and then all will be right with the world and Free Republic would be lolly pops and roses [paraphrasing] and no one would take issue.
I hope I got this posted before the first comment.
Guess I didn’t make it in time.
Oh, and I forgot my courtesy ping to dirtboy (post #4).
Perry is a likeable individual but the following quote from the article states Mr. Perry’s problem quite well; “The problem for Mr. Perry, of course, is that even more voters aren’t sold on him, either, in part because he has done such a lousy job of educating voters about his admirable record on jobs and growth in Texas.”
Nobody is conclusively excluded from the nomination yet, because this will go on and on, with a very good possibility of the convention being brokered with the candidates deadlocked all the way through June and beyond, and after no clear leader appears during the first roll call or two. Opening up the floor for nominations may be the next order of business.
Then it’s going to get interesting.
Which candidates other than Perry or Newt has shut up the media by not accepting their ambushes as a necessary part of the campaign. When Perry said “You got a name?” over and over he showed that he knows how to stand up to the media and that is going to be our biggest hurdle with Romney and Obama.
I think he can come back. I just hope people will stop trying to manipulate the election according to some vapid strategy and vote for the man they really want to be their President.
Rove is really in the tank for Romney, but if he wants a republican victory he needs an attitude adjustment.
I'm not the only person who feels we shouldn't be bashing the remaining conservative candidates, CW:
Taking stock of our dwindling conservative inventory
I'd suggest that we all stop trying to tear down the other conservative candidates in the race and instead concentrate on trying to build up our own personal favorites. Who knows? May even discover an acceptable conservative (if not a great conservative) in the bunch. We've never had a perfect conservative yet. Not even the magnificent Ronald Reagan. We and they all have warts.
And you were pinged to that thread, CW. Maybe you should ping Jim into this thread as well? Question his judgement as you have questioned mine?
What would you suggest will help you understand his plan?
Perry: Uproot and Overhaul Washington
The Perry Plan: Energizing American Jobs and Security
The Perry Economic Plan: Cut, Balance and Grow
President ZERO [1:45]
Rick Perry on Congressional Insider Trading [:24]
A Fox Guarding the Hen House is like asking a Congressman to fix Washington [:31]
Wheel of Washington [1:01]
It better or lots of people around here are going to be on suicide watch.
When Perry showed doubt about his own campaign Tuesday night his chances of keeping the funding coming in dropped dramatically I would think.
Did I misinterpret what you lectured me on this morning?
Care to call into question his opinion as well?
Now, now Cynical Bear, what have you ever said that was good about Rick Perry? Please tell me, if I have missed it.
How much we forget about the 2008 Iowa Caucus results. McCain was in 4th place. It is waaaaayyyyy early in the process. Anything can and will happen.
Mike Huckabee 40,841 34.4%
Mitt Romney 29,949 25.2%
Fred Thompson 15,904 13.4%
John McCain 15,559 13.1%
It is really up to Perry to sway potential voters. Apparently, as the article stated, he did not do so in Iowa. He spent a small fortune trying to persuade Iowa voters and fell short. This is sad as apparently he has been a good Governor. He will probably do better in South Carolina. My fear is that as of now he can only be a spoiler and not a viable candidate.
Conservatives all over the country wish "leaders" would stop acting as if Iowa and New Hampshire make the least bit of difference in the general election, and therefore stop acting as if they should matter in selecting a candidate.
Is there anyone with two functioning brain cells who really believes the country is going to go for Romney?
Since voting straight Republican ticket since 1972, I’d vote for Rick or Newt but I’d rather vote for Paul Ryan and Scott Walker being the Cheesehead that I am.
Go Packers!
Have you listened to the interview in my post above?
I highlighted it to give information to FReepers about Perry, one of the “remaining conservative candidates.”
It really is quite good.
Care to call into question Jim's judgement in the thread I linked to?
But, then again, it is ypur MO to avoid such things.
I swear, Sean Hannity almost sounds like he is too.
What are you going on about?
I have said nothing about Jim Robinson.
Why are you starting a fight?
“We’ve never had a perfect conservative yet. Not even the magnificent Ronald Reagan. We and they all have warts.”
True dat.
Therefore, beating front Willard “Massachusetts Lib/Mod” Flopney has to be any conservative’s goal first and foremost. Period.
AND Newt gets it. Santorum gets it. Bachmann gets it. Perry hopefully wises up soon and gets it. (I doubt Paul or Huntsman get it.)
Reagan would have tried to stop Willard’s quest FOR SURE.
I say NEWTORUM!!
Willard the Lib won’t win SC or FL if we unite out conservative forces and bomb the hell out of him DAILY. I urge folks to give to both campaigns after they give to this site.
P.S. A vote for SINGLE DIGIT Perry is a vote for Romney and anyone with a brain knows that. Get on board the Newtorum wagon now or simply allow Willard the nomination. Please choose wisely, folks! Choose the conservatives that CAN debate Willard Obama passionately, sharply, and speak coherently about OUR conservative principles.
That’s of course, narrows it down to SPEAKER NEWT and RICK SANTORUM. I think Reagan would agree with that amongst this current field of candidates. It is what it is.
It is early, but perhaps McCain isn’t the best person to highlight as an example of a “comeback.” He was a lousy choice.
And that is that? All his record? The Texas record? Jobs? His good debates? His conservative foundation and 10th Amendment fights he's taken on with D.C. (and won)...all that is out the door? None of the other candidates had one poor performance? This is the way we are now? This is American intelligence?
I expect a lot of voters will give the fact that Rick Perry served 5 years in the Air Force flying C-130s some consideration when they look at the entire picture.
...Rove is really in the tank for Romney,
“I swear, Sean Hannity almost sounds like he is too.”
No, Sean isn’t yet. But all of the establishment or liberal tv pundits - Rove, Hume, Kraut, Coulter, Will, O’Reilly, Beck, Noonan, 95% of CNN, and 99% of MSNBC are definitely in the tank for Willard.
Also, I’d say sadly Fox News is 70/30 for Willard. For now.
I pray that changes RIGHT after SC and Florida results come in for Newt or Rick S.
Yes, anything can happen. But the establishment GOP is pushing the “it’s all over” crap to discourage us.
Can’t let them beat us or manipulate us, Guys. They’re as bad as the Democrats.
"2012 Iowa Caucus Voter Guide"
Prepared by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association
At least Governor Perry stood his ground on this stuff. Maybe Iowa was a dangerous place to do it.
I love Perry’s service but he merely does Willard a big favor by bleeding off 6% (nationally) of the conservative vote from Newt and Santorum.
What good does it do to split any of the conservative vote three ways and allow the Massachusetts moderate liberal to win SC and FL?
It’s not rocket science, mam.
“Not to interrupt the in-fighting.
I like Perry, I live in Dallas, 5th gen Texan.
However he blew it in the debates, its that simple.
He likely was still on drugs from his back surgery and its not fair, he is smarter than that. However I think that’s just the facts of the situation. He can not un-ring that bell.”
BINGO! And of course the surgery had a lot to do with it sadly. But he’s still my favorite governor. Bar none. And that’s where he should stay after he endorses Newt or the the OTHER Rick. : )
I did not know about the "voter guide."
Geeze.....
Thank you.
Throw out the "oops" moment and other lackluster debate performances. Right or wrong, being a "folksy" TX governor not far removed from 2008, he's associated with Bush 43. While unfair to both Perry and Bush, it's a problem.
His "second impression" was not helped by the comments he made leaving Iowa. It's also a bit disingenuous to sit down in Sept for over 1hr of discussion with the Union Leader, make some appearances in NH, then bail on the state's primary because you don't like the way the tea leaves are reading.
Giuliani tried the "all in" tactic with FL 4 years ago. Perry's likely to have the same results with the strategy.
Kinda piling on there, aren’t ya? 15 yard penalty for you! ; )
Why not? Perry comebacks #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and #9 worked so well. /s
What?! That's the first i've heard of back surgery. You mean to tell me that his handlers let him get on live TV while taking hydrocodone, or whatever synthetic morphine he was probably taking? (depends on how invasive the surgery was, which i'm about to look up).
Unbelievable. One of the main side effects can be short-term memory loss. I tried to speak in public while taking Vicodin; it wasn't pretty. I wasn't loopy or 'high,' nothing like that. I just couldn't find the words i needed. It feels like that "on-the-tip-of-my-tongue" thing that everyone experiences sometimes, but it lasted for two grueling hours. Never again. I'll live with the pain, thank you.
And it wasn't exactly like i could publicly defend myself, either. "Ummm... please forgive me today. Uh, see.. I took some Vicodin for my back pain, so i'm chemically-impaired on a controlled substance while speaking today."
Idiots. If this is true, i hope they got fired.
Yep, I saw that and think it’s part of the guide. Just didn’t know if you’d seen the whole guide.
They weren’t pulling for Perry, eh?
There is actually a lot good about Perry. It’s just that the position he takes vis-à-vis Muslims is absolutely, irrevocably a danger I won’t allow in anyone I support. I will take that one position and actively oppose anyone running for office that shows anything but opposition to Muslims in this country. The underlying weak position on so many things for someone to support Muslims reduces their stated positions on many other things.
My son loves the Packers so I’m with ya there. You betcha.
But Tebow/Ryan sounds like the ticket of the future!
Go Broncos!
lol!
lol!
Ouch! Ssssssss... you’re on fire South40. ;^)
Oh the whole FOX crew has been given the word. It’s Romney non-stop. That’s why I no longer watch FOX.
CW those are really good links!!!
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