The issue of in state tuition, is very common around the country and becoming more so.
The TX legislature voted nearly unanimously in favor of the instate tuition. It should be cast aside as an issue.
Perrys record on Illegal immigration is actually VERY STRONG.
I will never understand why he accepted full responsibility for the in state tuition thing and made it his own.
The bill passed by an unvetoable number in the legislature with only 4 dissenting votes.
I disagree with some of Perry's positions on immigration, but your right, it isn't this massive deal breaker some were making it out to be. The problem is Perry was not nimble enough to finesse it and put the issue to bed during the debates - and his campaign is far too slow in dealing with his flubs and self inflicted wounds.
Romney has far more flip flips and a blatantly more RINO record than Perry, but Mitt is a good debater and a polished politician and can turn away the criticism with relative ease.
I think Perry also vaulted to the top so fast that ALL the other candidates came after him at once, and the Palin fans saw him as a threat to the entry of their candidate and raged against him all over the place to weaken him. Now that the field is set (and Sarah is totally out), I think it will begin to dawn on people once Cain fades (and I think he will) that Perry is really the only thing probably stopping Romney from winning the nomination. People will likely start gravitating back to him and the supporters of other candidates and non candidates will cease much of the rage and hate against him. The rest is up to Perry. He needs to do much better in the debates and kick into high gear and run a much more solid campaign. If he can't get his act together, well, I think we are probably stuck with Romney.