“We know how to secure the border,” said Perry, the governor of Texas, his voice rising from quiet solemnity to a loud command, “and if the federal government will not do its duty, then I will suggest to you that the state of Texas will.”
That remark brought the audience of about 200 of northwest Iowa Republicans to their feet for an extended standing ovation. And the room was buzzing after the 16-minute speech at the dinner, a fundraiser for nine county Republican parties.
“He seems to have matured or changed a little bit. He seemed to have more fire, a lot more motivation,” said Bud Douglas, a 71-year-old loan agent and the chairman of the Humboldt County Republican Party, told The Des Moines Register.
Just two days after Chris Christie got a rock star reaction from Iowans and reporters who swarmed the New Jersey governor on his debut trip to the presidential testing grounds of Iowa, Perry seemed to be feeling some competitive fire.
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