The Campaigner
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on August 15th, 2011 4:38 am by HL
The Campaigner
The Texas Monthly takes a look at the ten campaigns (and victories) of Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) since 1984 as he enters the Republican presidential primary.
“Today, there are only two sure things in life: Every few years Rick Perry will run for office, and every few years Rick Perry will grind his opponents into dust… A few were against relatively weak opposition, but many were against prominent figures who were expected to give Perry a run for his money… But all of them fell to Perry’s deep coffers, disciplined campaign style, occasional refusal to debate, and (semi-) popularity among Texans.”
Said John Sharp (D), who lost to Perry in the 1998 Texas Lieutenant Governor race, “Running against Perry is like running against God.”
A Three-Way Race
The New York Times notes that the events of the weekend — Michele Bachmann winning the Iowa straw poll, Rick Perry announcing his presidential bid and Tim Pawlenty dropping out of the race — have essentially turned the GOP campaign into a three way battle.
“While Mrs. Bachmann, Mr. Perry and Mr. Romney each have emphasized cutting attacks on Mr. Obama, they now face the need to begin drawing distinctions with one another and set up what could be a long and hard-edged campaign for the party’s nomination. Their pitches often overlap, with Mr. Perry and Mr. Romney presenting themselves as job creators, while Mr. Perry and Mrs. Bachmann appeal to social conservatives.”
“The contrasts are becoming increasingly clear as the slow-to-start campaign accelerates and candidates prepare to participate in three debates next month alone.”
Washington Post: “The Republican race is now a series of likely contrasts, with Romney cast as the establishment candidate who will portray himself as a former businessman who understands how to create jobs and as the candidate who has the best chance of defeating President Obama in November 2012. Perry will challenge Romney on the economic front and will play on the anti-Washington message that he has been sharpening since Obama took office in early 2009. Bachmann remains the insurgent in the race.”
Perry Reverses Himself on Controversial Issue
For years, Texas Gov. Rick Perry “has taken flak for his 2007 attempt to require girls to be vaccinated against HPV, the most commonly sexually transmitted disease and the principal cause of cervical cancer. At the risk of angering fellow conservatives, Perry has always insisted he did the right thing,” the Texas Tribune reports.
“That unapologetic approach changed this weekend.”
“A few hours after unveiling his campaign for president, Perry began walking back from one of the most controversial decisions of his more-than-10-year reign as Texas governor. Speaking to voters at a backyard party in New Hampshire, Perry said he was ill-informed when he issued his executive order, in February 2007, mandating the HPV vaccine for all girls entering sixth grade, unless their parents completed a conscientious objection affidavit form.”
Quote of the Day
“One of the reasons that I’m running for president is I want to make sure that every young man and woman who puts on the uniform of the United States respects highly the president of the United States.”
— Rick Perry, quoted by Ben Smith, who notes the line “is a reversal of the usual pledges of respect for the military from politicians.”
