The Midday Brief: Aug. 19, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "The newly minted presidential candidate cheerfully swept into South Carolina on Friday morning and was greeted like a heartthrob by a fervent crowd that most of his Republican rivals could only hope to assemble on the trail." — Rick Perry greeted with enthusiasm in South Carolina, The Washington Post

• "Since Gov. Rick Perry burst into the Republican primary less than a week ago, his shortcomings as a potential general-election candidate have been closely scrutinized. Critics say he’s too inflammatory, too Texan, too evangelical. Largely overlooked is the undeniable advantage Perry would bring to November 2012: a track record of appealing to the Hispanic community, the fastest-growing part of the electorate and an increasingly pivotal swing bloc." — Perry's Overlooked Asset: Hispanic Support, National Journal

• "Presidential hopeful Rick Perry's brash appeal to the Republican Party's fiscally conservative base may fall flat with big donors who favor a more moderate candidate to challenge President Barack Obama in the 2012 election." — Rick Perry risks scaring Wall Street Republicans, Reuters

• "Rick Perry is coming on like gangbusters, and that has forced all the other presidential contenders to step up—or at least recalibrate—their march toward the White House. What seemed a sleep-inducing race for months is suddenly a demolition derby, and even President Obama is being asked about the newest rival for his job. But there are pitfalls for each of the candidates. Here’s what to watch for in the coming weeks." — Rick Perry’s Domino Effect, The Daily Beast

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Gov. Rick Perry — touting the state's job growth on the campaign trail — got some bad news this morning: The state's unemployment rate is the worst in nearly a quarter century." — Despite Job Growth, Texas Unemployment Rate Worst in Decades

• "DAY 19 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Sugar Land's historic, art deco-style prison is closing." — 31 Days, 31 Ways: Iconic Sugar Land Prison Closes