After Poor Iowa Showing, Why is Perry Still Running?
Only Gov. Rick Perry knows for sure what changed in the 12-hour period between his late-night decision to come back to Texas to reassess his presidential bid and his morning Tweet that he was forging ahead to South Carolina.
While the Tuesday night announcement surprised Perry's staffers and supporters — even following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses — his abrupt and public change of heart Wednesday morning caught them completely off guard.
So what could he be thinking? We asked seasoned strategists, politicos and Republican experts on the ground in early primary states for their top five theories ...
Comments (58)
Paul Farmer
He is the general that gives up with his army intact.
The money reminded him of his bankroll, with the promise of much more.
Anya Khan
Gov Perry knows that Rep Paul will implode and wants to see about his chances, even if it mean the VP position. Almost everyone would be better than VP Biden.
sssdddd
A More likely explanation is that his mind was changed by Anita. It was Anita who said her Dick would never give up.
sssdddd
There is also another possibility, that he may be best to be out of town on the trail while his allies are being slaughtered I successive nights of long knives.
He may have therefore calculated his losses are lower if he appears to still be a contender.
Ant way a person looks at it you can rest assured no one but Perry will benefit.
sssdddd
There is also another possibility, that he may be best to be out of town on the trail while his allies are being slaughtered I successive nights of long knives.
He may have therefore calculated his losses are lower if he appears to still be a contender.
Ant way a person looks at it you can rest assured no one but Perry will benefit. Perry is the kinda got who would have been an Alamo survivor
Cris Sleightholm
Every presidential campaign needs a clown and Perry fits the bill.
sssdddd
Forest Gimp would say, 'I'll bet favors from Perry are not as expensive now'
BurningFeet
Did anyone see the plea to the public from the Texas State Parks for operating money, in the middle of the article? Perry is spending money, hundreds of thousands of dollars, that could easily go to keep the State Parks open, on his security detail, as he wanders the Earth, trying to be somebody. The Parks need $4.6 million dollars just to stay open, but the State says it doesn't have the money. But the State of Texas does have the money so rent a cops can live it up at 4 star hotels while pretending to protect Ricky from terrorists and the press.
Ed Rankin via Texas Tribune on Facebook
likely romney and his puppeteers asked him to stay in the game to break up the opposition.
Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He needs to blow through all his PAC $$ and is a corporate tool who does as told.
Donna Rene Johnston via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ed- that is an excellent theory. We know hoe much he loves to do what rich people tell him to do!
Stephani Lewis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He's an idiot. Duh. Same reason Gingrich is still running. Idiots with giant, indestructible egos.
Ryan Schumacher via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I think he think he has a legitmate chance in South Carolina. After all, he's a white southern conservative who has flirted with secession and is not above playing to popular prejudices.
Robert Rister via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry's staff and supporters can be far more openly racist than he. And make a reference to Jesus in every sentence and people in South Carolina will eat it up. I agree with Ryan Schumacher, Perry has a good chance in South Carolina.
Paul Marsh via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He is running for VP on Romney's ticket. Romney's not conservative enough for the establishment, and they'd have the traditional northern/southern thing going on.
Jim Letchworth
..his god told him he hasn't embarrassed rational texans enough yet?
Leon Drozd
His continued effort in this race shows that he is not true to his conservative words. It is a risk-taking arrogance of risking his stakholder/contributor in this money on an effort where market studies show there is little demand for the product. If he manages the money of Texas the way he manages the money of his campaign donors, then imagine how he will manage the money of the country.
Maybe he feels he needs to maintain the attention of his supporters so he can deliver them to one of the candidates in the end. Is this bait and switch?
The art of giving a good speech is knowing when to shut up and sit down.
Monica Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He needs to just stay down and quit giving Texas a bad reputation. But WTH, it's not his money he's using for all of this, it's Texas' money, so what does he care?
Mary Ellen Graf via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Good question!
Cynthia Tannehill Faulk Ryland via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Best observation? He's an idiot.
Dale Kramer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
cause perry is a narcisssict with capaign finance money
JC DemocratofTejas
Word is that Anita beat him up for saying he was done. She has relatives in the Carolinas?? He has already spent taxpayer money there, so he might as well go and continue making a fool of himself. L O S E R!!
JC DemocratofTejas
BTW, I remember not long ago (prior to bankrolling Formula 1), Susan Combs, our fine comptroller of public accounts stated that she had "discovered" a billion dollars she did not know we had. Really? Seriously? OMG. So, where is that money? Maybe she wanted to be VP to loser Rick. We need some accounting of Texas' public accounts & Perry.
Tony Trevino
Reasons to keep going:
1. He still has money leftover so he has to appease his contributors.
2. He is an egomaniac.
3. He has nothing better to do in Texas since he shot all the coyotes.
4. He looks bad leaving it like this. It affects his legacy. I really think he figures he needs to really show us he is not as dumb as he acts.
5. He needs to rehab his image to run for the senate.
Susan Topper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
As much as I do not want him back in Texas , can't stand to hear him on the campaign trail.
gypsy314 ne
I think Perry would be much better President then Obama.
Anyone but Obama!
Remember a vote for a democrat is a vote for Obama and illegal aliens , homosexuals and terrorist.
sssdddd
Maybe we should feel sorry for Rick, he might be an abused spouse who has to go out in the world and bring cookies home.
gypsy314 ne
Sorry or not Rick would be a better president then Obama hell a plant would be a better president then Obama.
Anyone but Obama!
Remember a vote for a democrat is a vote for Obama and illegal aliens , homosexuals and terrorist.
d f
Jes remember. Ole good hair is an arrogant bully who is surrounded by lackeys and sycophants who can't do anything other than run around on the public / campaign coffer dole, proppin up ole good hair to keep the campain and their silly, useless jobs going. Plus, he's also constantly being encouraged by his wife, who talks to dead people, telling him God wants him to do this, and of course, his clueless, empty-headed children who probably aren't any more capable of any type of employment outside gummit shenanigans than good hair hisself. He looks at South Carolina and finds a state full of idjits who elected a Looney Toone as governor and who will eat up good hair's ridiculous, right-wing, religious lunacy, just like all them idjit Texans who keep electing him as Texas governor. He knows if he can keep it going until South Carolina, he's got a chance of reaching all those idjit South Carolinians who will believe anything good hair spews at them, not knowing of course that they are being insulted by his pathetic pandering to their stupidity.
ava green
He only said he was "reassessing", not dropping out. Only the hopefuls that wanted him to fail, read that as "dropping" out. He was probably pretty darned tired.
I know of the hatred he's ginned up in the liberals here in Texas. That's why we "conservatives" luv him. :)
Personally, I'm glad he decided to stay in. I've been donating and doing my part to get him into the WH.
sssdddd
ava,
it is not liberals that are the most visceral here.
Perry's penchant for reactionary statements offends those who think fighting a second civil war US not conservative. It is a conservative that avoids a needless war that cannot be won. It is a reactionary to be so blinded by hate to sell oneself down the sewer pipe.
nancy sabet
Its entirely possible the campaign made an honest calculation after ‘sleeping on it’. Two weeks ago Perry was in Bachmann’s position in Iowa. His showing last night was less than expected but quite a bit better than it could have been just before Christmas.It seems to me that Perry finally found his stride but a little late to make a difference in IA or NH. With Newt going negative and Santorum about to get a vetting that will look like a hydro-colonic and Bachmann out, Perry could in fact be the last non-Mitt standing.
I’ve supported Perry all along. If he wants to continue I’ll keep supporting him
sssdddd
Go Santorum
sssdddd
Santorum, you the man.
sssdddd
How does Perry spell Santorum??
OOPS
BurningFeet
Perry is going to leave Santorum behind.
sssdddd
BURNING FEET,
More like your ears are burning.
Go Santorum go, the onle true conservative out there who is still viable.
sssdddd
SANTORUM, SANTORUM, SANORUM.
GO, GO GO
ava green
sssddd, you really need to check out the goofs Santorum is making in New Hampshire. Talk about feet burning........ his are being held to the fire and he's not doing well at all. Got booed off one stage......
Ermmmm......what were you sayin'?
sssdddd
ava,
We al know you are a paid Perry attack dog. So take your minimum wage and keep writing.
SANTORUM, SANTORUM, SANTORUM
The true conservative. Not one who just claims to be one in order to self promote.
Robert Chapman
After flopping in Iowa, why is Rick Perry still running? Heck it is way better than working.
sssdddd
SANTORUM SANTORUM SANTORUM
A TRUE CONSERVATIVE
ava green
sssddd, you're the one spamming this board with comments about Santorum.
I'm posting facts. Whatever it takes for you to keep your head in the sand and feel good about yourself/him.
Being booed:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/santorum-booed-hampshire-while-discussing-gay-marriage-222457078.html
Blacks:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/06/us-usa-campaign-idUKTRE7BT14220120106
"The NAACP civil rights organization complained about a remark Santorum made in Iowa in which he appeared to say, "I don't want to make black people's lives better by giving them somebody else's money."
AND,
http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2012/01/05/santorum_black_remark_condemned_questioned.html?from=rss/&wpisrc=newsletter_slatest
Attacks Reagan:
http://dailycaller.com/2012/01/05/santorum-commits-republican-sacrilege-attacks-ronald-reagan/
ava green
Santorum doesn't file for D.C. ballot
Santorum's quick rise raises the question of whether his organization is up to the task of getting him on the ballot in states further down the primary calendar -- and his failure to file today serves as a reminder that he is behind on putting together a team that can harness his current momentum.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/01/santorum-doesnt-file-for-dc-ballot-109647.html
Yeah, he doesn't seem to be doing very good in New Hampshire.......just like I said.
But, I'm just an attack dog, right? Whadduh going to call all these people?
sssdddd
AVA,
You are not irrational and maybe you are not part of Perry's crime family.
But I have sworn to stop the 'new confederate' campaign at all costs. We will not have a president that aligns himself with those old seductive saws. I will agitate until others fall in line. I will expose the racist implications of his platforms . I will incite people to take political action that will make shermans March look like a walk in the park. Perry will not be president either through the front door or the back.
In short to have a politician flirt with treasonous secession is the same as the act of secession. Treason is an act of war, Perry therefore in my view has already declared war on the United States of America, and by implication me.
Oh you might say Perry only used words. Yes those are just words.
One nation under god INDIVISIBLE ...
BurningFeet
sssdddd
Dare I say you're getting a bit frothy on this Santorum thing?
sssdddd
Burning,
What me frothy?
ava green
sssddd, none of what you say makes any sense at all. And, none of it is true.
It really is sssadddd that people still believe these lies and put no effort at all into checking if there is any truth in them, but come online on places such as this and spread the lies w/o even checking their validity. Doesn't make the object of the attack look bad......makes the person doing the attacking look bad.
Perry didn't ask for secession. It's a myth. So, there goes your "treason" meme.
Racist? Where?
You are smoking something. I don't know what, but you are way over the top with your comments. Are you even from Texas?
Here's a link to help with you with some of your disinformation that someone has foisted upon you.
http://peskytruth.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/rick-perrys-negatives/
http://www.politicalmathblog.com/?p=1590#comments
sssdddd
Ava it is you who is mistaken.
What I say makes perfect sense and this is why the evil Perry the anti-christ must be opposed.
Resistance is not futile.
sssdddd
It is not uncommon for pure unadulterated evil to look dead before one last run. Hitler had a near death experience.
Therefore it is necessary to keep up the pressure on Perry and his crime family until he cedes the race.
The good part is that now Perry has a sale running on Texas favors. Buy one government favor for full price and recieve an equal or lesser favor for free. A person also gets a coupon for first in the line Federal favors if elected.
ava green
You're nuts, sssddd. Totally.
At least those that would like to know the truth has the links I gave to find out the facts.
You? A total lost cause. I truly feel sorry for you in your hatred and delusions.
I'm sure most people have learned to ignore your trollish behaviors.....it's been a learning experience for me.
But, the problem with your behavior is that you've cheapened the candidate that you are promoting by your unwillingness to deal with facts.
You're not helping his cause by spamming and your delusional content.
Just sayin'.
sssdddd
AVA
Evil has many agents, you are one
ava green
sssddd, you don't even live in Texas. LOL!
Evil is someone posting on a Texas newspaper site, not being honest, not answering questions, and playing the fool.
Does your boss know what you are doing during the day?
SSSDDD, Public Relations Manager at Brown Palace Hotel, responded to this review
March 24, 2009
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http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33388-d83088-r23477816-Brown_Palace_Hotel-Denver_Colorado.html
Edie Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry can do less damage back here at home, where he is increasingly regarded as a joke and an embarrassment ( eg- Bum Steer of the Year award by Texas Monthly!).
JC DemocratofTejas
Thumbs up sssdddd. Ava seems to be bought and sold in Perry never never land.
ava green
Again.......what are the facts, JC DemocratofTejas ?
Insults are cheap.
It is also well-known that the liberals in Texas (trial lawyers, Democrats [especially the Democrat Underground that backs the trial lawyers in their battle against Perry], Unions,Liberals, and secularists. and RINO's)......... hate Perry because of his conservative values and actions (ie, tort reform). For that reason the rest of Texas pretty well ignore whatever stories come out of the liberal newspapers about Perry and hateful lies such as I've read here.
You all are pretty much ignored in the rest of the state.
Did you know that the husband of Great VanSustern has organized the trial lawyers here in Texas to help destroy Perry?
John Coale – a Washington lawyer who describes himself as a “Clinton Democrat” (he worked closely with the Clinton Administration on gun law reforms and other causes, his web site states) – has been advising Cain for the last eight months.....
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fox-news-greta-van-susteren-268419 ;)
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/the_guy_the_sharks_fear_etAoeHT2Z2t64YTa9ARjyM
gypsy314 ne
To Ava
I would not put much to anything the liberals on this blog they are full of insults and can not see out of the box they are in.
I think Perry has to do this for what ever reason and I would vote for him.
Anyone but Obama!
Remember a vote for a democrat is a vote for Obama and his support for illegal aliens , homosexual and and terrorist.
BurningFeet
Wink wink wink
"...who knows what may come out of that?"
Wink wink wink wink wink
Shannon: Some have associated you with the idea of secession or sovereignty for your state. …
Perry: I think there’s a lot of different scenarios. Texas is a unique place. When we came in the union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that.
You know, my hope is that America and Washington in particular pays attention. We’ve got a great union. There is absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what may come out of that? But Texas is a very unique place and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot.
winkedy wink wink
"...absolutely no reason to dissolve it."
winkedy winkedy wink
Buenger also pointed to a Supreme Court case in 1869, Texas v. White, in which the court ruled that unilateral secession by any state was unconstitutional.
“On all counts, this is a total fabrication,” Buenger said. “And it reflects poorly on our state that our governor would insist on this.”
factcheck.org
What kind of American even engages in this unpatriotic discussion, much less gives a wink and a nod of approval to those who somehow missed the history lesson of the Civil War? Oh, sorry, the Perry above is Rick Perry, sitting governor of Texas.