Perry's Malaise

On track to even surpass Rudy Giuliani's campaign for president in 2008, Rick Perry campaign could rewrite history books - not in a positive way. The Giuliani campaign left many in political circles scratching their collective heads with his Florida or bust strategy he used in that campaign. Largely ignoring the key states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada, Giuliani put all of his eggs into campaigning in Florida where he felt he would show strongly. A win there, he thought, would give him the momentum needed to win big on Super Tuesday, where many of the remaining delegates for the Republican Convention would be won. However, it seems dismal showings in the key aforementioned states swayed would be voters to other candidates. John McCain won the state with 36% of the vote. Giuliani finished a distant third with 14.6% of the vote behind both McCain and Mitt Romney.

I bring up this disaster of a campaign to shed light on what is happening in the Perry camp. When he entered the race, the collective right sighed with relief that this "staunch conservative" ally had thrown his hat into the proverbial ring. Perry, who has had success lowering taxes, driving job growth, has been a foil to President Obama. He was everything was everything the right was looking for. However, once he became a perceived front runner, he also opened himself to ever mounting criticism. His record has been attacked successfully by his opponents in his bid to fill the White House. Perry's debate performances has been disappointing at best to some of his supporters, and laughable to many others. Just look at the Florida debate on September 22 and his feeble attempt to attack Mitt Romney. As a viewer, I literally felt embarrassed for him during his drawn out, incoherent, bumbling "attack". The Florida Straw poll was on September 24, just two days after the debate. Perry finished second to Herman Cain in the poll. Second place wouldn't be considered too bad for candidates in a poll, however, Perry lost by 22 points to Mr Cain.

Perry, who in some polls at the beginning of September had as much as a 19 point lead has seen that lead drop to a mere 3.5 points at the end of the month. His pitiful debate performance compounded by numerous attacks made by his opponents has certainly weakened his brand. His wife has attributed poor debate performance to Mr Perry being "tired". Does the American Public really want a President who begins rambling, incoherent monologues when he is "tired"? If the Perry campaign doesn't adjust, and quickly, Perry could be out of the race quicker than he was in it.