Americans for Rick Perry as active as ever, raising $400,000 in three weeks
posted at 7:10 pm on July 7, 2011 by Tina Korbe
As a potential presidential campaign announcement by Texas Gov. Rick Perry comes ever closer (he’s expected to decide in the next few weeks), strategists and supporters seem ever more confident his decision will be a “yes.”
Former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove, for example, recently said he thinks Perry will run — and, as Rove has had a hand in Perry’s political career, his opinion ought to count for something. (In 1989, Rove helped to persuade Perry to join the Republican Party and to run for agriculture commissioner, and he was “heavily invested” in Perry’s election as lieutenant governor in 1998. But then, Rove also endorsed Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison against Perry in Perry’s most recent run for governor, so who knows what Rove knows?)
And, now, the group Americans for Rick Perry reports it has raised a fair amount of money in a short amount of time:
An outside group urging Texas Gov. Rick Perry to jump into the Republican presidential primary has raised $400,000 in three weeks, emboldening organizers to ramp up fundraising and represent him in next month’s Iowa straw poll — even if he is still on the fence.
Bob Schuman, a senior strategist for Americans for Rick Perry, said Thursday that the group is expanding its fundraising operation outside of Texas to include Miami, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The group can accept unlimited donations but, under federal law, can’t strategize with Perry himself.
The group is the same group that ventured to Ames, Iowa, to secure a vendor slot for Perry on the grounds of the straw poll campus. Few expect Perry to announce before he hosts a major prayer breakfast in Houston Aug. 6 — but, in the meantime, he must feel good to know his supporters are backing up their own prayers with cold, hard cash.
Blowback
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He’ll nullify Romney, but will produce a tit-for-tat with Bachmann.
Could sexism could raise it’s head?
If Romney does get the nod, maybe a Perry/Bachmann ticket?
If so, bye “O”!
It rhymes!
Opposite Day on July 7, 2011 at 7:14 PM
There are a lot of Texans 24,000,000 There are a lot of Southerners. I imagine he could raise a little bit of lettuce if he wanted to in a hurry.
Dr Evil on July 7, 2011 at 7:15 PM
Tina Korbe has a Fevah!!!
And the only prescription is more
CowBellPerry.portlandon on July 7, 2011 at 7:19 PM
If Perry jumps in, Romney might see a defection from his poll numbers. Right now the Republican base is on cruise control.
Dr Evil on July 7, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Here we go again- “Help us, Obi-wan Perry! You’re our only hope!”
Sigh. Still waiting for zombie Reagan to save us?
drballard on July 7, 2011 at 7:23 PM
When will we learn? Gingrich will save us! No, Fred will save us! No, Palin will save us! We sound like liberals! NO ONE WILL SAVE US. Stop looking for uber-candidate and get choosing from what we got. Perry’s got lots of strikes against him that will drive all of us bonkers.
drballard on July 7, 2011 at 7:26 PM
You’re waiting for Prophet Romney to save us, aren’t you?
portlandon on July 7, 2011 at 7:27 PM
Perry would wipe the floor with Palin.
Bishop on July 7, 2011 at 7:29 PM
Palin would wipe the floor with Obama.
portlandon on July 7, 2011 at 7:30 PM
Whatever… Get in or stay out, already…
Khun Joe on July 7, 2011 at 7:31 PM
Perry/Bachmann 2012
Knucklehead on July 7, 2011 at 7:34 PM
I thought a Perry decision was coming from within hours after Newt’s whole staff bailed on him and were supposedly going over to Perry.
Admit it. The breathless “Perry’s running, we know it!” is sounding awfully similar to all the breathless speculating over whether Huckabee would run or not. I can’t prove it, but I would say that the motivation has less to do with Perry than with…you know who. Perry’s function is to fill the void that Huckabee left.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 7:37 PM
She’s from Arkansas, so that would explain why she’d know him pretty well. Just as long as he gets in by early fall, so it’s not embarrassing.
IR-MN on July 7, 2011 at 7:38 PM
I really doubt that Perry’s running. I don’t think he has the name recognition to be able to wait until the last minute to hop in.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 7:41 PM
What happens to that money if Perry doesn’t run?
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 7:44 PM
I know because everyone knew who Obama was when he decided to run in 2008/
Dr Evil on July 7, 2011 at 7:46 PM
Actually by virtue of the hype surrounding his 2004 DNC appearance he was better-known nationally than Perry is now.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 7:51 PM
Feb 10, 2007 – Barack Obama stood before a cheering crowd in his home state Saturday and announced he will seek the 2008 Democratic nomination for president.
idesign on July 7, 2011 at 7:53 PM
^ PLUS Obama got a much earlier start than Perry is apparently planning, if he does get in.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 7:53 PM
Good people. Thank God for them.
That makes sense. First he has about 3 weeks of recoveringfrom his back surgery this week. Then he might not want to announce before the Prayer meeting. Might make him seem like he is using God. And it might make Democrats participating feel uncomfortable.
As long as he announces by the end of August, he will be fine. The race doesn’t really start until after Labor Day anyway. Plenty of time for Perry. He is a proven money maker, pretty well vetted and a solid 10 year record as Governor of a huge state. (some minor issues, but who wouldn’t being Governor for a decade. No candidate is perfect.)
Hope he runs.
Elisa on July 7, 2011 at 7:59 PM
It’s called getting your ducks in a row.
Say what you want to about Obama he did have his ducks in a row against Hillary and ran his operation like a well-oiled machine.
technopeasant on July 7, 2011 at 8:01 PM
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 7:41 PM
There’s no real frontrunner this time; so the fall is plenty of time for anyone to build up a campaign. Huck went from zero to a win in IA within December. Perry has a much more prodigious background than Huck.
IR-MN on July 7, 2011 at 8:02 PM
Wall Street types are making piles of money right, IN TEXAS, via investments in limited partnerships (you won’t see this in the Dow Jones) thus, it will not be only Texas, Oil, and/or Southern money backing him.
Kermit on July 7, 2011 at 8:08 PM
IR-MN on July 7, 2011 at 8:02 PM
I think you can argue that Huckabee’s resume with evangelical Christians is far more impressive than Perry’s.
I can’t see Perry dislodging either Bachmann or Palin with this segment of the GOP electorate which in 2008 made up 44% of the electorate.
If anything he’d split the Christian vote and allow Romney to come up the middle.
technopeasant on July 7, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Yeah, there is. Romney is leading everything I see at this point, and I don’t see Perry overtaking him — especially if Perry waits around until August. Palin could do that; Perry can’t.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Which is why I see Perry sitting it out if Palin decides to get in. I think that’s probably the reason for his hesitation.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 8:12 PM
Perry signals the return of the Huckabee wing of the GOP.
Ugh….
rightwingyahooo on July 7, 2011 at 8:14 PM
Jesus, Amnesty, and General Lee.
I’m a-votin’ fer Rick Perree….
rightwingyahooo on July 7, 2011 at 8:15 PM
I’m STILL waiting for that exact Einsatzgruppen quote.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 8:17 PM
The important number will be Q3 fundraising. If Perry gets in at the end of July, and puts up a big fundraising number for August/September, he can bake the cake just like Dubya did in 2000
phreshone on July 7, 2011 at 8:21 PM
So we have to pick out candidate right now? Why? many of us aren’t all that impressed with anyone who has announced so far. When everyone is in, we can watch them debate and campaign and make a decison. Is that okay with you?
Kataklysmic on July 7, 2011 at 8:22 PM
Trailer to the Undefeated was released today:
http://conservatives4palin.com/2011/07/video-the-undefeated-trailer.html
stenwin77 on July 7, 2011 at 8:22 PM
Interesting. Thanks.
Elisa on July 7, 2011 at 8:22 PM
That’s between me and psuedo, he said it, I reminded him twice, the first time he admitted it and repeated it, the second time he denied it.
I’m not going back thru the May and June vault post by post, for you…..
rightwingyahooo on July 7, 2011 at 8:23 PM
At least Rick hasn’t been campaigning & flirting & drawing attention…like some lady I know of…
itsnotaboutme on July 7, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Obama/U.N. versus Perry
Read, at least the first 6 phrases.
Schadenfreude on July 7, 2011 at 8:40 PM
Lifted from the SC thread in the HA headlines.
Schadenfreude on July 7, 2011 at 8:43 PM
Yeah, I maintain that Perry is in. Just like I maintain that it will come down to Perry vs. Romney in the end (Bachmann may hang around, as the designated “Huckabee 2.0″, but eventually she’ll fade as the more conservative / Tea Party wing of the party realizes that between her and Perry, Perry is by far more electable).
And one of those two will be the nominee, and we’ll be fine. Because as much as people will disagree and grumble, really, BOTH of those men DO have a VERY good chance of defeating Obama in 2012. It won’t be a slam dunk, but they’re both electable and capable of doing it.
I suppose this is the cue for you “true cons” to argue that, noooo, of course Mitt is a loser, or something. Don’t want him to be the nominee? Then when it comes down to Mitt vs. Perry, throw your weight / primary vote / money behind Perry. Doesn’t matter to me. Romney or Perry, I believe both can win.
Vyce on July 7, 2011 at 8:46 PM
Perry gets in, Palin stays out.
Knucklehead on July 7, 2011 at 9:01 PM
In the general I’ll vote for either Romney or Perry but I don’t think Perry is electable in the general…..he’ll lose every state that’s even remotely purple.
There are to many too’s with the guy: too Texan, too religious, too undisciplined in message, too far right, looks too much like a televangelist….ugh Perry is going to be a hard sell against Obama.
Plus I don’t think he has the intellectual acumen to go head to head with Obama.
The guy hasn’t lost an election yes, but in Texas…not such a hard thing to do.
I don’t know if the guy has a glass jaw…..Perry is a huge risk with no real big payoff and from the sound of things he’s going to be just as polarizing as Obama just from the far right.
I think the GOP will really be misreading the public mood if they put up Perry against Obama.
sheryl on July 7, 2011 at 9:02 PM
Which, of course, is why you want Perry in. Then again if Palin gets in, Perry stays out. That’s probably why he’s not in yet.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 9:13 PM
You can bash Palin all you want, you can call Perry unelectable, but the fact remains that Romney is Obama’s surest ticket to re-election.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 9:15 PM
I’m from NJ and I know Perry would be electable here. Reagan was too and he was very conservative. And Yankees have a romantic notion about people from Texas. Even moderates like Texans and will allow a Texas politician to get away with saying things that they wouldn’t like others saying. NJ needs jobs and moderates and independents here are sick of Obama. even many who voted for him.
This year, yes, they would elect Perry over Obama. He isn’t as scary to them as some of the other conservatives. (I’m talking about NJ moderates and independents. Not conservatives like me.)
Is that a joke?
Elisa on July 7, 2011 at 9:18 PM
Oh please, little Bammie is an idiot. I don’t think there is a single person on the Republican primary stage that is not smarter than he is.
slickwillie2001 on July 7, 2011 at 9:20 PM
I seriously doubt that. NJ probably won’t even re-elect Christie, much less vote for yet another Republican governor from Texas. Some of these blue states are probably going to be blue for a long, long time…until they finally collapse and have to start over, maybe.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 9:23 PM
No Republican would be a slam dunk, but Perry has an excellent chance of winning. Romney does not.
For several reasons. I will name just a few.
He is yesterday’s news. 2008 is gone. People like fresh faces.
Romneycare makes any arguments Romney has for Obamacare mute. He tried to finesse it so they were different, but it didn’t fly and Romney will not have a leg to stand on in the debates.
Like McCain, Romney does not have the guts to take it to Obama and be critical enough of him. Obama and his media machine will steamroll right over Romney.
He is annoying conservatives lately even more than he did in the past and a few of our base might stay home because of it. Also, some evangelicals who are usually a lock vote for Republicans may stay home because he is Mormon. (not saying it’s right, just a fact.) In a close election in some key states these voters who stay home could make a difference.
I’m not saying that any Republican candidate is unelectable. And I will vote for Romney or anyone who runs against Obama. But Romney will have less of a chance of winning in the general than most of our other candidates.
Elisa on July 7, 2011 at 9:25 PM
You are right about Christie. but Christie is not Perry and many in NJ are disappointed in and sick of Obama. Christie won’t be running against Obama for governor.
Elisa on July 7, 2011 at 9:26 PM
I disagree with everything you wrote there.
Perry looks to be a formidable candidate who can point to the Texas jobs record over and over to separate himself from Obama. Any other focus on Perry’s conservatism (values most Americans share) will be seen as a desperate attempt by Obama to distract from the real issue – JOBS.
As far as intellectual depth, Perry is no dummy and it is Obama who has to explain away his failed record.
Daemonocracy on July 7, 2011 at 9:27 PM
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 9:15 PM
I’d vote for Palin over Obama, I’m not sure how that’s bashing someone?
We simply disagree. I live in liberal land in CA, I hear the way these people talk about Palin and Perry, neither one is acceptable under any circumstances to replace Obama. And these aren’t elite people, just normal folks…..they absolutely can’t stand Palin.
And Perry personifies for them every sterotype of what an evil Republican is: white, Southern, religious, Christian conservative…..he would just be awful in a general election…..both Palin and Perry would lose by large margins in the general.
Both Palin and Perry are too right wing for most moderates and independents.
Plus I think most Americans want to replace Obama with someone who isn’t an ideologue type person. They thought that’s what they were getting when they voted for Obama but as most who studied his record knew that he was a deeply polarizing ideologue partisan person.
I don’t think the American people are going to go for someone on the right who is just as polarizing and Perry has self proclaimed he isn’t interested in curry favor with Democrats…..that’s a loser message and a terrible way to start off a campaign for wanting to be President of all the people in America.
LOL…..and he hasn’t even started campagining yet and he’s saying stupid stuff……Perry is a big “ugh” for me. But I’m a loyal Republican and will vote for him is it comes to that, I just hope it doesn’t because, imho we’ll lose.
sheryl on July 7, 2011 at 9:31 PM
yeah, California people aren’t the type we should listening too. Hear that? I think Perry just absorbed more California businesses and jobs while they argue over gay history in public schools.
Nobody cares what California thinks, they are a failed state. The rest of the country does care about the Texas economy and jobs, even Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan will be paying attention.
Daemonocracy on July 7, 2011 at 9:46 PM
sheryl on July 7, 2011 at 9:31 PM
CA, New England and the Pacific NW won’t decide this election. OH, IN, VA, PA, FL and NC for sure will and Perry will do just fine in each of them. He’ll be competitive in a few more. As Perry said, we should not suck up to people who don’t like us. To heck with them; we don’t need their votes.
IR-MN on July 7, 2011 at 9:46 PM
Perry is no dummy, neither was Bush but that became the common knowledge. Have you ever heard Perry? He sounds and talks exactly like GWB. If you close your eyes you’d have a hard time telling the two apart.
I think that’s a big problem and shouldn’t be ignored. Perry gives Obama his favorite political strawman attack back…..”W”. We will hear nothing but Bush, Bush, Bush….ugh.
sheryl on July 7, 2011 at 9:53 PM
How do you know Perry does well in those states? He’s never run a national campaign before. Where’s the polling on it? Nor has he been vetted on the national stage before, we have no idea what will be uncovered.
As far as what Perry said, I think that’s crap logic…..he’s pissing away half the population away with that kind of thinking. It’s “small tent” thinking and Obama’s PR people will trounce on it because it feeds into a popular MSM meme.
sheryl on July 7, 2011 at 9:59 PM
Bush butchered the English language to cringe inducing levels, but he also won two elections against two elite yuppies.
I have heard Perry speak, I was concerned he would sound too much like Bush and though he has a similar manner to him, he is much smoother when speaking.
People who vote on the way someone talks will not be deciding this election.
Daemonocracy on July 7, 2011 at 10:09 PM
I agree.
Elisa on July 7, 2011 at 10:12 PM
I don’t think we should listen to California regarding how to run a state either….from first hand experience, btw.
But I wasn’t speaking to that, I was talking about how the liberal mind works (California being a bastion of it) and how they operate to demonize Republicans to win elections.
Perry is an easy target for all the aforementioned reasons and because for the man himself; the ‘curry favor’ remark is bad, what he said about Obama and abortion a few weeks back was particularly distasteful…he’s not very good in debates…did you see the one in November? Perry just isn’t a good match up to Obama…good Texas economy and all.
sheryl on July 7, 2011 at 10:15 PM
I’ll tell you what’s small test thinking: people who will vote against someone who’s Christian, or White, or Male, or from the South/Texas. I’m from a liberal state as well, and when I hear Ellison supporting idiots say that I’m glad they won’t vote for the GOP. I do not want bigots from California or whatever blue dump deciding our nominee; they’ve already put the country in the hole. A Texans has won all the toss up states I wrote, but PA, which will go GOP this time.
IR-MN on July 7, 2011 at 10:16 PM
I would include NJ in the “competitive in a few more” category.
NJ voted for Reagan twice. In 2004 President Bush got 46% of the NJ vote. Against Kerry. Perry can definitely get over 50% against Obama in NJ. I know the Clinton and Obama NJ voters. Some would never vote Republican. But the Independents and moderates will.
NJ votes pocketbook over anything else, including social issues. NJ independents still love Reagan. And NJ people don’t like a phony and they respect a clear, level headed and strong talker who can back it up.
Elisa on July 7, 2011 at 10:16 PM
I like Perry, easily in my top 3, and would vote for him in the General.
That said, c’mon people, the Ads for stupid people AKA 50% of the populace write themselves.
Perry is from Texas.
Bush is from Texas.
Perry=Bush.
Texas hates the rest of the USA, Perry hates the USA (See the slogan “Don’t Mess with Texas”).
He has just as big of a hurdle to climb as does Palin( Both of whom I like and would vote for in the general, and primary I’m still undecided).
All I’m asking is for Consistancy, the Dem Media machine has already shot Palin, and in two weeks, I guarantee, they shoot Perry just as hard.
Anybody but Mittbama.
MadDogF on July 7, 2011 at 10:20 PM
@Elisa, I wished your gov would’ve run this time. @maddog, the only problem is that TX has the best economy in the country and best public schools. The die hard dems will never vote GOP, but indys will be sold on that, especially if unemployment is still above eight or so. People aren’t that dumb; it took a financial meltdown to get the current tool in the White House.
IR-MN on July 7, 2011 at 10:26 PM
What?!? Obviously you haven’t seen Romney’s ads lately. His “Obama isn’t working” borrowed from Thatcher herself is great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-44o5Dn6V98
The ad was released the same day Obama was in PA, so Mitt held a press conference and said “He was the one who came here, I didn’t pick this spot, he did. This is the spot he picked to symbolize the success of the stimulus and my eyes tell me, it ain’t working.”
Romney went on to say “He shouldn’t leave that town,” Romney said of the president, who left Washington D.C. today to go to Pennsylvania for several fundraisers. “The President’s time has been spent playing golf and campaigning, he should be spending his time and energy on getting Americans back to work and fixing this economy.”
Not only does Romney have the guts to take on Obama, he’s using Obama’s own PR props to do it.
Romney standing in front of empircal evidence of Obama’s failure that he lauded as his success = brilliant
That hardcore “taking it to Obama”.
sheryl on July 7, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Right now, Ronald Reagan could not carry California. I lived there for 27 years and watched the demographic shifts take place.
From my limited experience with New Jersey, I would say that The Gipper would still be potent there. Pepople from “Joisey’ will take corrective action if they have to. California is suffering from an ideological pathology that precludes acting in their own self-interest.
What makes Perry viable in Jersey makes him viable in other blue collar northern areas as well.
Romney? He can give the South to Obama via a lack of tunrout. And he will if nominated I fear.
I guess I had better saddle up and go with Rambling Rick.
Oilpatcher on July 7, 2011 at 10:50 PM
I doubt that, espeically if unemployment is still high…..People are going to turnout in 2012.
Perry appealing to blue collar union folks, I doubt it but maybe.
sheryl on July 7, 2011 at 11:34 PM
You’re lying. Again.
Because you don’t have it.
ddrintn on July 7, 2011 at 11:46 PM
Ummm…no. That would be Palin.
Oh nos, liberal Californians don’t like Palin or Perry. What are the odds???
There’s not a Republican on the planet who would win California, so it doesn’t really matter what they think, lol.
xblade on July 8, 2011 at 12:07 AM
Wow! Mitt said “ain’t”. He’s really one of us after all!
Give me a break. Romney’s as phoney as a three dollar bill. No Republican will win without the momentum of the Tea Party and the hard right. Two faced liars like Boehner, Kantor and Romney need purging from Washington and public life. Just wait and see how these Democrat moles sabotage their majority and bow down to Barack by August.
All you Romney-ites go ahead and spew that BS about “electable”. If it wasn’t for Palin, West, Bachmann and the Tea Party 2010 would have been no different than 2008. Either the candidate will be a “right wing extremist” like Ronald Reagan or Obama will win. Us Puritans ain’t voting for another Party Republican.
rcl on July 8, 2011 at 1:51 AM
You are a Seminar Commenter right? That statement is so obviously a lie that you cannot seriously believe it.
Who won in 2008? The most divisive, smear-mongering, lying POS that ever ran for President. Every word from Obama’s mouth is a smear, a lie or a threat. Yet you postulate that conservatives cannot beat this authoritarian pig unless they adopt a conciliatory demeanor to his disregard of the truth and the Constitution. You’re “thinking” with the wrong organ.
If this is actually your position please stay away from the Polls next year. We need an informed citizenry casting ballots not people so easily swayed by the MSM’s blitz of fascist propaganda.
rcl on July 8, 2011 at 2:13 AM
Californians are not going to elect anyone with an (R) after their name, so no need to try to find someone who would be electable out there. Personally, I feel California
should just be made part of Mexico and be done with it. They are so corrupted by all of their liberal laws they’re passing, they are totally out of the mainstream of most of America. So, no one cares what California thinks.
silvernana on July 8, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Ummm…no. That would be Romney.
ddrintn on July 8, 2011 at 5:46 PM