Perry's pain is Romney's gain
By: Jonathan Martin and David Catanese
Politico.com
September 13, 2011 04:54 AM EDT
TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney’s path to the Republican nomination became clearer Monday night — and it had little to do with his attacks on Rick Perry over Social Security.
Instead, it was the fire Perry took from the right at the CNN-Tea Party Express debate that suddenly seemed more threatening to the Texas governor’s chances than Romney.
Perry was sharply criticized by Michele Bachmann for his support of vaccinating girls against HPV and whether he did so as a favor to an aide-turned-lobbyist and a pharmaceutical firm, he was hit by Rick Santorum for his opposition to a border fence and backing of Texas legislation to give the children of illegal immigrants in-state college tuition, and he was dinged by Ron Paul over whether taxes have gone up in Texas.
Taken together, few issues resonate as much with the conservative base at the moment as culture, cronyism, American identity and fiscal purity. And Perry was forced on the defensive over each of them in Tampa.
That might be the Texan’s chief vulnerability and his main rival’s best hope: that the Republican undercard of Bachmann, Santorum and Paul remain in the race to bloody Perry so much on his right flank that Romney can consolidate enough of the GOP establishment to eke out a plurality victory.
(More here.)
Politico.com
September 13, 2011 04:54 AM EDT
TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney’s path to the Republican nomination became clearer Monday night — and it had little to do with his attacks on Rick Perry over Social Security.
Instead, it was the fire Perry took from the right at the CNN-Tea Party Express debate that suddenly seemed more threatening to the Texas governor’s chances than Romney.
Perry was sharply criticized by Michele Bachmann for his support of vaccinating girls against HPV and whether he did so as a favor to an aide-turned-lobbyist and a pharmaceutical firm, he was hit by Rick Santorum for his opposition to a border fence and backing of Texas legislation to give the children of illegal immigrants in-state college tuition, and he was dinged by Ron Paul over whether taxes have gone up in Texas.
Taken together, few issues resonate as much with the conservative base at the moment as culture, cronyism, American identity and fiscal purity. And Perry was forced on the defensive over each of them in Tampa.
That might be the Texan’s chief vulnerability and his main rival’s best hope: that the Republican undercard of Bachmann, Santorum and Paul remain in the race to bloody Perry so much on his right flank that Romney can consolidate enough of the GOP establishment to eke out a plurality victory.
(More here.)
Powered by Blogger
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home