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Rick Perry’s Campaign Approach Is Hitting All the Right Notes
Commentary Magazine ^ | 7-25-2011 | Seth Mandel - Commentary

Posted on 07/26/2011 10:27:26 AM PDT by smoothsailing

Rick Perry’s Campaign Approach Is Hitting All the Right Notes

Seth Mandel

July 26, 2011

A pro-Rick Perry group is taking advantage of a new rule in the Iowa straw poll that allows voters to write in a candidate. GrowPAC will air radio ads in Iowa urging voters to write in Perry’s name in the Ames straw poll next month. The move would–if the ad works–help Perry in two ways: it would reveal public support for Perry without having to meet expectations, as he would if his name were officially on the ballot, and it will drain support from Perry’s conservative rivals.

It’s a smart strategy that won’t cost Perry a dime. In a second bit of good news for the Texas governor, a new poll of Republican primary voters in Florida has Perry leading all candidates. It was the first time Perry’s name was included in the poll, so it’s difficult to determine whether this represents a surge in popularity for Perry or simply an expression of support that has been there all along.

The poll is actually better for Perry than at first glance. Overall, Perry garners 16 percent, with Romney and Bachmann tied at 15 percent. But Sarah Palin is included in the poll, and she gets 13 percent–a not insignificant number in a poll this close. If Palin does not run, her support would be up for grabs, and could easily put both Perry and Bachmann ahead of Romney.

This is not bad news for Romney yet, however. As I wrote here, Romney leads the “Not Bachmann” coalition by a mile, consolidating support from party elites and business leaders. Ramesh Ponnuru has a good article up at National Review’s website making a similar argument, though he adds one note of caution about Perry: “He would be running to the right of anyone who has won the nomination in the last 26 years.”

The argument that Perry is too conservative to win the Republican nomination is an interesting one. Most of the criticism of Perry’s conservatism has focused on whether he is a viable general election candidate, not whether he’s too conservative for Republicans. I think Perry has already begun to mitigate this supposed weakness. He has been focusing his campaign on states’ rights, and even angered some social conservatives recently with his comments about New York’s new gay marriage law: “That is their call. If you believe in the 10th Amendment, stay out of their business.” As Don Rasmussen points out at the Daily Caller, Perry has been consistent about this. “Whether it’s gay marriage, medical marijuana, education or a host of other issues, Perry’s strong stance on the 10th Amendment allows him to have his cake and eat it too.”

That will partially allay concerns a Perry presidency would impose his views on the country as a whole. Something else that might make Perry’s conservatism less rattling is today’s USA Today front-page story: “Need a Job? Move to Texas.” The article details the state’s job growth under Perry’s governorship:

From June 2009 to June 2011 the state added 262,000 jobs, or half the USA’s 524,000 payroll gains, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even by a more conservative estimate that omits states with net job losses, Texas’ advances make up 30 percent of the 1 million additions in the 34 states with net growth.

If Perry can successfully make his case on states’ rights and job creation, he may be able to peel off enough elite support to beat Romney. So far, voters seem to like it.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gardasilperry; perry; perry4illegals; rinoperry; romneystalkinghorse; ronpaulspammonkeys; rovespuppet; therinoperry; threadspamfreaks
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To: D-fendr

A conservative who believes in stopping the war on Us citizens, legalise marijuana Rick...


21 posted on 07/26/2011 12:16:14 PM PDT by aces
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To: D-fendr

Exactly, let’s see what they’ve got!


22 posted on 07/26/2011 12:20:25 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: aces

I’m sorry I don’t understand your reply. Expand?


23 posted on 07/26/2011 12:21:27 PM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: Ranger Warrior

I am sure you remember after the Republican Primary debate that Pawlenty was criticized for following Reagan’s 11th Commandment to not speak ill if fellow Republicans because he refused to tie Romney Care to Obama Care. I think he did the right thing but there are always critics, even of the Ten Commandments.

Also, the Left has infiltrated everything from the two political parties (they control the Democrats), the churches, the press, the military, and every other aspect of American life and culture. It is foolish to think they don’t also have representatives posting on FR, perhaps the most influential conservative website.

I am a strong supporter of Rick Perry and I am surprised at the opposition right here in Texas. I attribute it to age old Texas politics which has historically been rather dynamic and active. Even though Republicans now control all the key government positions in Texas there are still those who grouse about nearly everything. They refuse to give Perry credit for anything. They say Texas’ growth is the result of the legislature and Texas tradition. They are right but Perry also champions those values and makes personal visits and phone calls to key industry leaders to encourage them to move to Texas.

The list goes on but I am reminded of 2008 when many Freepers were threatening to stay at home or to go the 3rd Party suicide route. Many insisted on the perfect candidate, THEIR perfect candidate. Not all “Freepers” are here to promote conservatism. Some are trolls.


24 posted on 07/26/2011 12:33:11 PM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (I retain the right to be inconsistent, contradictory and even flat-out wrong!)
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To: smoothsailing

As I see his record now, I think that both Rush and Sarah overrate Perry. He seems to me to be a political chameleon who tries to play both sides. IMO, he is a moderate who happens to live in Texas. E.G, his flight to attend a mosque groundbreaking is disturbing to me. This is pandering, pure and simple. Bob


25 posted on 07/26/2011 12:40:17 PM PDT by alstewartfan ("I'll just go back to the dream I was having, before love went astray." Al Stewart)
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To: smoothsailing

Intrade now has Perry ahead of Romney by 5.5 percentage points.


26 posted on 07/26/2011 12:49:04 PM PDT by freespirited (Stupid people are ruining America. --Herman Cain)
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To: Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!
Unless Christie runs it is Perry’s for the taking.

You think so? I just want our candidates on the Right to have at it! Let us all see where their heads are.

NO, I do not want Mittens.


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27 posted on 07/26/2011 12:58:19 PM PDT by rdb3 (The mouth is the exhaust pipe of the heart.)
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To: smoothsailing

I’d be OK with Gov Perry being able to tell obummer “Adios. Mo Fo”.


28 posted on 07/26/2011 1:14:48 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (zero hates Texas and we hate him back. He ain't my president either.)
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To: alstewartfan
As I see his record now, I think that both Rush and Sarah overrate Perry.

You could be right. I generally consider the views and opinions of Palin and Limbaugh to be well founded and worthy of consideration, but they are mere mortals, and as such hardly infallible.

his flight to attend a mosque groundbreaking is disturbing to me...

I believe you're talking about the Ismaili Muslims. I don't think he gave up his Christian faith to visit with them. Tens of thousands of them live in Texas. Perry is supposed to be the Governor of the state, I don't see how he can ignore them.

I guess I've pretty much heard all of the arguments against Perry, and obviously there are many, which is to be expected, given Perry's long public career.

There are legitimate concerns. The Guardasil E.O., the TTC, and his early immigration views seem to cause the most agitation among his detracters. Those are flaws, but I get the impression Perry learned from them. To me, that's where his experience pays off, he won't make the same mistakes again.

Actually, he's not my first choice, I prefer Sarah Palin. They seem to like each other and I see them as a dynamic team.

Can you imagine a Perry/Palin or Palin/Perry ticket! Two experienced conservative Governors in the Reagan tradition, from our two largest energy producing states! Drill, Baby, Drill! :)

29 posted on 07/26/2011 1:36:04 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: freespirited

>>>Intrade now has Perry ahead of Romney by 5.5 percentage points.<<<

Perry’s moving up! Now 6.1

As of 4:45PM EST

Rick Perry 35.0%

Mitt Romney 28.9%


30 posted on 07/26/2011 1:58:47 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing
I sure hope you’re right. Getting that poser out of the White House is Job One IMO.

Yeah, well, don't forget Job Two: Make sure we don't put another army of Bushbots back in there, who last time opened and held the door for Obama in the first place.

No more RiNO's. No more access capitalists and Wall Street henchboys. No more phony and/or half-baked conservatives. Principled conservatism wins elections, and the others can slide in but are a disaster for policy.

31 posted on 07/27/2011 4:53:39 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus (Concealed carry is a pro-life position.)
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To: Rational Thought
What I’m seeing now is very favorable press on a National level, almost as if the MSM is promoting his candidacy.

And this article appeared in Commentary, which is a "Neocon" magazine, and the "Neocons" are social liberals who frequently differ from other conservatives in many areas.

32 posted on 07/27/2011 4:59:51 AM PDT by lentulusgracchus (Concealed carry is a pro-life position.)
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