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The Cook Report: It’s Perry’s to Win
National Journal ^ | 8th October 2011 | Charlie Cook

Posted on 10/07/2011 1:47:11 PM PDT by shield

Now that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has announced he will not seek the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, all of the Republican donors, elected officials, and party activists pining for a savior to jump into the race must face the reality that the field is set. They need to channel Stephen Stills: “If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.”

No doubt the fundraisers for Mitt Romney and Rick Perry are tying up the phone lines into New York’s financial district, wooing donors who had either been holding out for Christie or had used him as an excuse to remain on the sidelines.

Both the Perry and Romney camps can argue that the Republicans who would have supported Christie will now gravitate toward their candidate. Perry backers can point to Christie’s brash, in-your-face style and say that the Texan is more temperamentally and stylistically similar. In that sense, it’s true, Romney and Christie could hardly be more different. But ideologically, Romney might actually be a closer match. It’s hard to imagine Perry mimicking Christie’s support for the ban on assault rifles and current gun laws or saying, as Christie did when he was running for governor, that he is anti-abortion, but would not “force that down people’s throats.” The truth may well be that social and cultural issues aren’t particularly important to either Christie or Romney.

In the end, it’s a good bet that neither Romney nor Perry will inherit an appreciable number of supporters; it’s the donors who wanted Christie who are now in play. With the fourth quarter just getting started, it will take a while to ascertain who wins the donor primary.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aclownpost; anyonebutperry; apresidentcain; apresidentperry; biggovernmentcain; bushlovesperry; cainforpolice; cainforteachers; clownpost; clownposter; cronycapitalistperry; ignoranceisbliss; justsaynotoperry; larazarick; losercain; notreadyrick; obotsforperry; perrybots; perrybotscluesness; perrybush; perryclownposse; perryemptysuit; perryfordogcatcher; perryliarsattack; perryromenysvp; perrythegopbot; perrywins; peryrisamoron; rinorickey; rinos4perry; sinkobama; taxmancain; zotperry
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To: normy

Cain is in this to be Romney VP if Romney is the nominee. That is why he is working as a vicious attack dog for Romney against Perry. Disgusting indeed and this obvious fact will be realized by a majority of Republicans and hopefully before it is too late or else Romney would be the nominee and we would have the most liberal Republican nominee in ages even more so than McCain, much more so indeed.


81 posted on 10/07/2011 9:07:35 PM PDT by jgge
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To: shield
I think Perry may be radioactive now, that hunting club fiasco and immigrant's college thing may be his undoing.
Only time will tell.
82 posted on 10/07/2011 9:09:03 PM PDT by Captain Peter Blood
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To: shield
and (Cain) told Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday (10/05) that:

"If it's one of those other candidates up there (who gets the nomination instead of him), I am going to support them 100%. If Governor Perry gets the nomination, I will still support him, but it won't be 100%."

I had no idea Cain said that. That is disgusting, absolutely disgusting.

83 posted on 10/07/2011 9:11:34 PM PDT by casinva (The stock in McDonalds has just gone down because Obama has been serving so many whoppers.)
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To: jgge

If Cain doesnt soon come out and attack Romney, it would seem that people here would soon wake up.

One thing we know - neither Cain nor Romney will ever be on a Perry ticket.


84 posted on 10/07/2011 9:12:47 PM PDT by tirednvirginia
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To: casinva

Cain’s a Romney guy. No surprise here. Totally out of his league.


85 posted on 10/07/2011 9:16:00 PM PDT by magritte
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To: magritte
Cain’s a Romney guy.

By what reasoning?

86 posted on 10/07/2011 9:19:03 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: narses

Rick Perry is still running ? /s


87 posted on 10/07/2011 9:19:17 PM PDT by Absolutely Nobama (Chairman Obama And Ron Paul Are Sure Signs The Republic Is In Serious Trouble. God Help Us All.)
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To: Grey Eagle

I was not fooled. I hoped I could draw an exchange about the issues with some real quotes.


88 posted on 10/07/2011 9:22:12 PM PDT by jonrick46 (2012 can't come soon enough.)
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To: dfwgator

I think Cain believes he has a lot in common with Romney and relates to him as a professional businessman. I think Cain believes the President as CEO concept, which is Romney’s calling card.

Romney has the leadership qualities United States needs

By HERMAN CAIN

Published on: 02/03/08

The dynamics of political party connections, the political process itself and public perceptions have once again yielded the top two contenders of each major party in the 2008 presidential race. And once again, the public can only hope that the ultimate winner of the White House will be a candidate with the most leadership substance.

My vote is for Mitt Romney.

History is important, but the future is more important. The success of this country in the future will be shaped by the leadership abilities of the next president.

Our success will not be based on pandering to uninformed voters, promising emotional quick fixes over common sense or nitpicking of opponents’ past records. Success will come from focusing on the right problems and solving them. That will mean making tough decisions about some problems that have been with us for decades. It will also mean taking a tough stand on new problems and challenges.

That’s what leaders do.

Mitt Romney has done that as a chief executive officer in business, as a governor and as head of the U.S. Olympics. He has done so while balancing political consequences but not compromising fundamental principles of the founding of this country or free-market economics. We have prospered as a nation by strengthening those principles; we will not remain strong if we allow those principles to become diluted with a lack of leadership.

Anyone who wishes to find a reason not to vote for Romney can find one. But the reasons to vote for him are far more compelling. He has successfully managed a real business with other people’s money and some of his own. He has balanced budgets. He successfully led a turnaround situation with the Olympics. And he has spent more of his career outside government than inside.

On the other hand, John McCain has spent more of his career inside government than outside, and the reasons not to vote for him as the Republican nominee are very compelling.

He voted against letting people keep more of their money in 2001 and 2003 when President Bush pushed through his tax cuts. He has been part of the escalation of the federal debt during his 20-plus years in the U.S. Senate. He showed questionable leadership on a failed immigration bill. And he showed no leadership by failing to support the president’s efforts to establish personal retirement accounts — a proposal that would have started to fix the coming financial train wreck in the Social Security system.

That’s not leadership.

I do not question the character, integrity or sincerity of either Mitt Romney or John McCain, nor do I question their desire to do what’s best for the country. I do not worry that they would fan the flames of social and religious differences. My focus is on their prospective leadership relative to national security, the economy, federal spending, free-market health care solutions and the elimination of dysfunctional programs.

Mitt Romney’s history is more indicative of the substance needed to make major progress on critical issues, and not just to make more politically palatable incremental changes in Washington.

Media momentum and campaign funding aside, there are several other Republican candidates who would not cause me to worry about our grandchildren’s future. The two leading Democratic presidential candidates, however, cause me great concern because of their severe lack of leadership substance and their policy proposals.

This is despite Barack Obama’s appeal and strong public perception but entirely consistent with Hillary Clinton’s self-proclaimed but quite invisible experience.

Great leaders are born, and good leaders keep working on it. We are not favored with an obvious great leader in the 2008 race, as is apparent from the primary process and the results thus far.

But Mitt Romney’s leadership credentials offer the best hope of a leader with substance, and the best hope for a good president who could turn out to be great.


89 posted on 10/07/2011 9:23:36 PM PDT by magritte
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To: Captain Peter Blood

Is that why he raised 17.1 million in 49 days and his fund raising went up after the 3rd debate?


90 posted on 10/07/2011 9:25:58 PM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: tirednvirginia; shield
My state, Virginia, is a swing state. We have a fantasitc Governor, Bob McDonnell who is working hard to turn Virginia back to the red.

I’m partial. I would love to see him as the VP. They would be the team of JOBS Governors.

Wow tirednvirginia, I was just looking at Bob McDonnell's stuff, and at least from what little I've seen, he looks AWESOME!

Pro-life, and Perry has said he wants a pro-life advocate as his VP. Love that big family picture on his website! (I posted a link below with it.) Strong 2nd Amendment guy. Pro-growth - jobs. AND what a take if we could pull Virginia. They are SOOOOOO close and getting closer all the time! LOL

Bob McDonnell would DEFINITELY be a good VP choice for Rick Perry! Love that idea, and I hope Rick Perry keeps Bob McDonnell in mind! Thanks for bringing him to our attention here!

http://www.bobmcdonnell.com/index.php/issues/protecting_families

91 posted on 10/07/2011 9:34:30 PM PDT by casinva (The stock in McDonalds has just gone down because Obama has been serving so many whoppers.)
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To: Longbow1969

I agree with you. I have doubts about him (Cain)

While he was an interesting and fun fringe candidate he could get by with a lot of stuff that he is mistaken or uninformed on.

The vetting on Cain has just begun.

Perry has made some missteps but he has a proven record of conservatism to run on with only a few minor negatives.


92 posted on 10/07/2011 9:34:36 PM PDT by altura (Perry 2012)
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To: Longbow1969
The in-state tuition for illegal immigrants children is the one that hurt him the most and the heartless comment was blown way out of proportion. He apologized for the heartless debate and he may apologize again for it in the next debate.

At the end the Republican primaries voters must decide whether the in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants is more important and more dangerous than Romney super liberal record or Cain lack of any record and if they by very unfortunate way decide that this is the case then they would have Romney as the nominee and Romney may choose Cain as his VP because he played a good attack dog for Romney against Perry and he is in it to be Romney VP anyway.

93 posted on 10/07/2011 9:35:42 PM PDT by jgge
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To: Palladin

Herman Cain has an outstanding record on immigration!

(that’s a joke)


94 posted on 10/07/2011 9:36:40 PM PDT by altura (Perry 2012)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Cain does not have the Palin supporters. At least not this one.

He has the bandwagon people who don’t particularly like the current field and have worked themselves up into a frenzy over a total political novice who is naive on many issues.

Also a man who causes one to wonder with his unprovoked and unreasonable attacks on Perry.


95 posted on 10/07/2011 9:41:55 PM PDT by altura (Perry 2012)
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To: Captain Peter Blood

Oh, please. Hunting club fiasco? You’ve got to be kidding.

Do you really, really think that is anything whatever. I would be ashamed to try to trash someone with that nothing story.

Let me see .. no never mind, beyond hope.

The immigrant (I guess you mean illegal or children of illegals). Texas did that 11 years ago and several states have done it.

When you think of the actual problems we have:

Jobs — Perry’s created a job friendly environment and business has responded.

Obama care — Perry is fighting it and his tort reform legislation passed in Texas has done great things for the medical profession.

Social issues — won’t find anyone stronger or better than Perry.

Gun rights — he’s the best on gun rights.

And you’re worried about a rock that never belonged to his family and which was painted over 20 years ago?? I just don’t get this line of thinking.


96 posted on 10/07/2011 9:49:11 PM PDT by altura (Perry 2012)
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To: altura

P. S. In a way The Rock story dug up by a frantic crew at the Washington Post is a testament to the pristine quality of Perry’s record.

If you have to go that far to find something to try to trash Perry with, it says something.

It reminds me of the effort they put out to find things on Palin. All her e-mails and nothing.

All Perry’s long record of public service and they turn over a rock ???

Makes you wonder.


97 posted on 10/07/2011 9:57:40 PM PDT by altura (Perry 2012)
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To: tirednvirginia

Cain would not attack Romney, he is a faithful attack dog for Romney.


98 posted on 10/07/2011 9:59:42 PM PDT by jgge
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To: Rick_Michael
I’d much prefer Perry.

Perry = NAU friendly and illegal immigration friendly. Nothing more to say, except Ron Paul is the only 'REAL' American in the fight and the only one that will save us from the world elite (NWO)!!!

99 posted on 10/07/2011 10:06:40 PM PDT by SlightOfTongue
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To: casinva

Glad I pointed him out, too. He’s a super guy.


100 posted on 10/07/2011 10:08:01 PM PDT by tirednvirginia
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