(Image Source: The Dallas Morning News)
BY ZACH TOOMBS
You're watching multisource political video news analysis from Newsy.
Six weeks ago, Texas Governor Rick Perry entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination and shot straight to the top of national polls. But after a rough debate performance and a staggering loss to Herman Cain in a Florida straw poll, pundits are saying Perry’s not exactly living up to expectations.
Over the weekend key GOP figures, including Mike Huckabee, expressed doubt as to whether Perry’s ready for the national stage. FOX News has his comments.
“Well, he had a bad night, but I think Rick Perry is not prepared for the pressure of the presidential stage yet. There was such a case of, you know, “He’s coming, he’s coming” -- the anticipation. And this is not atypical in a presidential election. Four years ago it was the Fred Thompson candidacy. He was going to be the second coming of Ronald Reagan, and you saw how that turned out. And so, Rick Perry’s got a struggle ahead of him.”
Although Perry has been considered a favorite of the Tea Party and the far-right wing, his views on a few hot-button issues, including immigration, conflict with those of much of the conservative base.
The Christian Science Monitor spelled out many Republicans’ reaction to Perry’s comments on immigration in Thursday’s debate, when he said those who wanted to punish the children of illegal immigrants “don’t have a heart.”
In addition to his jumbled answers to some questions, (the comment) was his low point in the Republican presidential candidates’ debate Thursday night... Some tea party activists even suggested that Perry’s attitude on immigration meant it was all over for the man they once saw as their champion to deflect what seemed to be the juggernaut of Mitt Romney – the man many conservatives don’t trust and don’t particularly like.
Concerns over Perry, were amplified Saturday, when former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain, who’s registering in the single digits in most polls, trounced the Texas governor in a straw poll in Florida, a state Perry said he’s got all his hopes on.
Although Perry beat out his main challenger, Mitt Romney, in the poll, it was Perry’s campaign that had invested considerable time and effort in Florida in hopes of taking a definitive win. NBC’s Meet the Press gives the details.
“Some developments this weekend: The Florida straw poll showed Herman Cain on top of the Republican field, and it was Rick Perry, who said he’d win that, at a disappointing second place. Just this morning in the Michigan straw poll -- what does it show? Mitt Romney on top. Again, Rick Perry coming in second.”
Still, many, including Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, are saying it’s far too early to count a candidate like Perry out of the race.
“I think it’s way too early to pronounce last rights over one performance. There’s so many of these -- too many maybe. He hasn’t been in it that long. I understand what Gov. Huckabee was saying, but I’d cut him a little slack and give him a little time.”
Adding weight to Daniels’ assessment, Perry picked up a key endorsement Sunday in Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, and he’ll have another chance to prove his debating chops at the next Republican debate October 11 in New Hampshire.
Transcript by Newsy.
