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The Spectacle Blog
CNN’s Peter Hamby reports that Rick Perry has a strong ground game in Iowa, with over 1,500 precinct captains. This matters a great deal in the caucus system and might help in competing against a candidate like Rick Santorum, who is relying more on organic popularity (though Santorum’s campaign tells Hamby that they have 1,000 precinct captains).
View all comments (26) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by W. James Antle, III
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/12/31/hope-for-rick-perry
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Clint| 12.31.11 @ 3:51PM
" Romney Neck and Neck With Paul
More evidence that Iowa is now a two-man race—and that the Newt Gingrich bubble has definitively burst. Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are neck and neck, with Romney getting 23 percent of the likely caucusgoers and Paul getting 21 percent. Rick Santorum follows with 15 percent, Rick Perry with 14 percent, and Gingrich comes in fifth with 13 percent. The leveled field partly comes from a splintering of the Tea Party vote: Santorum gets 20 percent of their vote, Romney and Paul 17 percent, and Gingrich 16 percent."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.
Dai Alanye | 12.31.11 @ 4:35PM
Unfortunately for Captain/Doctor/Newsletter Editor "IF," half his potential votes in Iowa are coming from Dems and Independents not Republicans. Most of those will eventually go back to Obama.
But the blog entry is about Rick Perry's possible success. Considering Perry's inept debate performances, his relative ignorance of national issues, and his poorly organized campaign organization it strikes me as amazing he isn't polling in last place, precinct captains or not.
Clint| 12.31.11 @ 6:41PM
"Adjusted" CNN Poll: Paul 26% Romney 22%
"the stories CNN told by their headlines were substantially driven by their decision to exclude Democrats and independents from their polling, and therefore, it remains true that the CNN headlines were substantially misleading."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.
Oldefarte| 1.1.12 @ 11:07AM
Ronnie may possibly win Iowa, but Romney will probably win the Republican nomination [and proceed to beat Obama, which is the most essential goal]!!!!!!!!!
Rick V.| 12.31.11 @ 5:07PM
Honestly, I'm sick to death of the whole "who's on first" game with the Republican candidates. I just have this odd sense that the strange entity we refer to as "politics" actually exists in another universe parallel to our own - we can see it but we can't touch it, we can't influence it in any way. It will, however, determine our destiny. The American political system is about as "participative" as a train wreck, and that is what we are watching as it approaches us. Obama is the only one who realizes this; of course he should, as the engineer. Prepare for four more years for the O-crowd. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so. I remember a bumper sticker from the early 70's that was never more true than it is today - "I love my country, but I fear my government." Hell, this isn't even my government anymore.
Dan| 12.31.11 @ 5:23PM
We've heard all of that crap about strong ground games before...........
We'll see..........
Margie| 12.31.11 @ 6:14PM
And the race is heating up!!
Bob Grant| 12.31.11 @ 6:18PM
Happy New Year Marge!
Margie| 12.31.11 @ 6:35PM
Thank you very much, Bob. And a Happy and Joyful New Year to you and yours as well!
2012 here we come!
Bob Grant| 12.31.11 @ 6:16PM
Not-Ready-For-Primetime Perry has no shot. Heck, Ron Paul might have a better one than him. That should tell you everything you need to know.
This piece is simply filler for a slow news day. What's next, an article about the Kardashians?
Come on.
Margie| 12.31.11 @ 6:38PM
Well, Bob~ you seem so confident in saying Rick Perry has no shot, but as I always like to say, you never know.
I pray that the BEST man wins.. and between him, Gingrich, Santorum and Bachmann, I'd say NOT BAD AT ALL!!
His Will be done, but I pray, please Lord, not Obama.
Margie| 12.31.11 @ 6:39PM
Oh, sorry Michele, "best woman!"
Bob Grant| 1.1.12 @ 10:26AM
Elmer Fudd would be an improvement over the Dictator.
Margie| 12.31.11 @ 7:21PM
Ohio rocked in the New Year today with a 4.0 quake!
The Creator of the Universe reigns Supreme!
buckeyeman| 1.2.12 @ 9:40AM
A branch fell off one of the trees in my back yard today. I'm still pondering the significance that the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE intended.
Margie| 12.31.11 @ 7:22PM
Oh, and Happy New Year, Mr. Antle, III.
Oldefarte| 1.1.12 @ 11:10AM
Margie, here's a Happy New Year cartoon for you:
http://www.gocomics.com/glennmccoy/2012/01/01
bill| 12.31.11 @ 10:38PM
Romney, Paul, and Santorum are all Huckabee, and it's Rick Perry who will get the GOP nod.
In 1980, G. W. Bush won IA, and Ronald Reagan won the GOP nominee.
In 1996, Pat Roberts snatched the IA Caucus, and Bob Dole got the GOP nominee.
In 2008, Huckabee won in IA, and McCain grabbed the GOP nod.
In 2012, Romney, or Paul, or Santorum may surprise in IA, but will fade away, as did G.H.W.Bush, or Huckabee, or Pat Roberts.
For GOP contenders, SC and FL matter more than NH and IA, because SC and FL are bigger states, populated with conservative voters.
NH and IA are both swing states. They got it wrong so many times.
Romney has been campaigning for 5 years, and it no surprise that he is at the top of the poll.
Ron Paul is great on fiscal policy, but his campaign boat is sinking because of his "reckless" foreign policy.
Santorum toured all 99 counties in IA, and Iowans liked him.
Rick Perry is the 3 term governor of TX, a state with a population over 25 millions.
He is a solid conservative.
He has charisma and leadership, and can defeat Obama in a landslide.
Anthony M| 1.1.12 @ 4:31PM
Perry really seems to have a good story to tell, Air Force vet, grew up poor, rose to the office of governor and did a great job, if he can weather the storm of his initial gaffes (Reagan had a few, too) he'd make a formidable candidate for the Republicans.
Nite| 1.1.12 @ 12:35AM
Oh, I think Perry will surprise in Iowa. However, Iowa seems better at picking losers than winners. Romney and Paul have been running for 5 years and I personally don't think either one will be the Nominee. Iowa and NH don't matter too much, it is the large states. I think Perry will do well. The GOP elite have decided they want Romney and Fox News in particular, don't mention Perry at all. They mention the other candidates, but not him. It is not much better on the other media. I don't want the media to choose the Republican candidate this time, the voters need to make that choice.
bill| 1.1.12 @ 6:39PM
Perry will win IA, while Romney steals NH. Perry will grab SC and FL as well, showing his strength going into the Super Tuesday. He will conquer the Super Tuesday also, and thus clinching the GOP nod.
Bob Grant | 1.2.12 @ 12:00AM
Any your prediction is based on his brilliant debate performances or his ability to get his name on the primary ballots?
Zbigniew Mazurak| 1.2.12 @ 9:29AM
Yes, Virginia, there is hope for Rick Perry. Actually, there's more than that for him. There's a clear path to the presidential nomination for the longest-serving Texas Governor.
All the other not-Romneys - Huntsman, Paul, Gingrich, Bachmann, and Santorum - lack the money, the organization, the record, the number of supporters, and/or the experience to wage a fight for the nomination for long after January 3rd. Rick Perry has all of that. He's the ONLY not-Romney prepared to fight for the nomination all the way to the Convention if needed. He has several things which no other candidate in this race has and which Romney's or Obama's money can't buy:
1) Personal story: Rick Perry was born to parents who were poor Texas tenant farmers, but through his own hard work became an Air Force Captain, a licensed C-130 pilot, a successful tenant farmer, and the most successful Governor in contemporary America.
2) A history of distinguished service to America, beginning with his five years of service with the USAF around the world, flying C-130s, then in public service.
3) Experience, including tons of executive experience. He began as a Texas state legislature, but later became Agriculture Commissioner, Lt. Gov., and TX's longest-serving Governor.
4) A record of governing conservatively, which enabled him to face the voters again and again and get reelected handily. You can't say the same for Mitt Romney.
5) And most importantly of all, a record of CONSERVATIVE accomplishments: a loser pays tort law, malpractice law reform, bringing doctors in to Texas, cutting spending, cutting taxes, balancing budgets for 11 straight years, vetoing tons of wasteful spending, banning funding for Planned Parenthood, requiring women who want abortions to get an USG, billing the federal government for the cost of jailing illegal aliens, securing the border when the federal government refuses to do so, successfully campaigning for a defense of marriage Amdt. to the Texas Const., appointing conservative jurists to vacant seats on courts (to serve remaining terms; normally, judges in Texas are elected); tons of pro-gun-owners legislation signed into law; and caring for Texan veterans. Perry's long list of conservative accomplishments is a conservative's Christmas wishlist. None of the other candidates have ever accomplished anything conservative.
buckeyeman| 1.2.12 @ 9:44AM
Does this include his belief that illegal aliens who have broken our laws by breaking into our country are owed a college education by the taxpayers. His bumbling inarticulateness is painful but his cognitive dissonance is a killer. BTW, none of the candidates will deal with this lawbreaking either, leaving us the worst, weakest field of candidates imaginable to go up against the worst and weakest president in US history.
Rod| 1.3.12 @ 10:48AM
Perry's "belief" is that the CHILDREN of illegal aliens who have successfully graduated from a Texas high school should not be penalized for the crime committed by their PARENTS (especially when you can't get the federal government to either police the border effectively or send the parents back).
And nearly every Republican in the Texas legislature, where, by the way, the law originated, agreed with him as they voted overwhelmingly for it. Perry's comment that anyone who would do otherwise "has no heart" was spot on. Go after the parents, if you must, but leave the kids alone until you do. Seeking to penalize the child for the acts of the parent is not just "heartless," it's despicable.
Jeff Perren| 1.2.12 @ 9:34AM
It's a pity Perry's polls numbers dropped. He is by far the best candidate in the race, the potential equal of Reagan as a president (in all but extemporaneous speaking ability).
He's the only one running who ever had a chance to win who genuinely believes in the original American political system as designed by the Founding Fathers.