Rick Perry's Texas media strategy isn't working

It was to be a nationalization of Perry’s strategy from his Texas campaigns, in which he shunned the press. Yet, nearly two months in, this strategy has not paid the dividends that the Perry campaign likely expected…

Since the rollout, however, Perry has done only two other interviews with national, nonpartisan publications. Last month, he sat down once again with Halperin — alongside Time managing editor Rick Stengel — and did a phone interview with USA Today’s Susan Page.

Perry has also proven media-shy when it comes to the major television networks. So far, he’s skipped the Sunday morning chat shows — a mainstay in presidential politics — in favor of talking with Sean Hannity, a Fox News host sympathetic to conservatives, and with Carl Cameron, Fox’s veteran campaign reporter. Perry did one interview with CNBC, but has avoided the major cable networks MSNBC and CNN.

Reporters told The Huffington Post that the campaign is often unresponsive to their questions. Some said they’ve had trouble even getting on the Perry campaign’s press lists. Reporters following Perry on the trail have been rankled by the campaign’s unwillingness to release its schedule far enough in advance to allow them to reach events. Since Carney has found local press to be more favorable in its coverage, that might be the intent.

Access to Perry on the campaign trail has also been cut back dramatically.