Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Mollie noted earlier that Michele Bachmann had what looked like a farewell press conference scheduled for this morning. Well, that presser has come and gone, and so has the Bachmann campaign, which ended after a dismal sixth place showing in Iowa.
When speculation about Bachmann's departure hit the press this morning, it was being touted as the second high-profile casualty of Iowa, after Rick Perry announced in his remarks last night that he was returning to Texas to "reassess" his candidacy. While "reassess" is usually an all-purpose euphemism for "abandon," it turned out not to be this time. Perry tweets this morning "Here we come, South Carolina," which Fox News has confirmed with the Perry campaign is an official signal that he's staying in.
This leaves a field of Romney, Perry, Gingrich, Santorum, Paul, and Huntsman going into New Hampshire. And don't forget that this weekend features two debates (one Saturday night on ABC, one Sunday morning on NBC), which will be our first chance to see how the remaining candidates adjust to the post-Iowa realities of the campaign.
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Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
There's yer problem. Perry has too much money to just quit. Of course, that is the end of September report and may look very different now that he's been through Iowa. If nothing else, his staff may have convinced him to do it for their kids...they'll be employed another month or two if he stays in through SC and FL.
Edited on Jan 4 at 9:42amMar '11
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
I am relieved. Perry is an A list candidate - Santorum is not.
Mar '11
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Of course Bachmann should drop out since her support eroded from her meaningless straw poll victory. Conversely, Perry should stay in because caucuses are historically useless. I hope the folks in SC have much better sense and will value gubernatorial experience.
Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Has Perry received his second look and been passed over, or has he not received reconsideration yet? Personally, I've given him the second look, and with Bachmann officially out he has the positions most aligned with my own. The problem he faces (I fear) is that with everyone else jumping on the bandwagon for flat taxes and energy production he's left with no distinctive features except for his oops moment. He's banging the part time congress drum, but I doubt the idea will catch fire. It's too specific at this point. He should stick to the wrecking ball metaphors and build his campaign on less specific terms of remaking Washington. It gives him the outsider line (against Santorum and Gingrich) and the real reformer line (against Romney.) If he gets a strong showing in SC and FL (strong meaning high enough delegate count to push on) then his decision to stay in the race pans out for no other reason than keeping his ideas before the public a little bit longer.
May '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Or, at least and better yet, value the advice of their own governor.
Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Duane Oyen
Or, at least and better yet, value the advice of their own governor. · Jan 4 at 10:09am
Or they can just come here to be told how to vote.
Dec '11
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
I think the key for Perry is to emphasize limited government (not just part-time congress). He can focus on acts/inclinations by/of Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum that expand government control to do things that you may or may not agree with, but which government should not do.
Jun '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
To paraphrase the Iron Lady: The Perry candidacy will end when he eventually runs out of other people's money to spend.
Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Rodin
I think the key for Perry is to emphasize limited government (not just part-time congress). He can focus on acts/inclinations by/of Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum that expand government control to do things that you may or may not agree with, but which government should not do. · Jan 4 at 10:19am
I don't understand why he isn't already. This is his home field. He's most comfortable talking about these subjects. He wrote a book about it, fer cryin' out loud! He should probably stay in his comfort zone as much as possible.
Aug '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
One advantage of Bachmann dropping out this early is that she still has time to work on a strong re-election campaign for Congress. Her voice in Congress is a boon.
Jun '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Would prefer an A-list candidate who knows how to do 3 essential things: 1. debate without calling other Republicans heartless; 2. Not stumble over his answers; and 3. uh...uh...what's the third one? Don't tell me...oh yes...not be forgetful.
I don't think Perry's performance in public qualifies him as an A-list candidate. I don't want to feel sorry for the Republican nominee and make excuses for him all the time. Perry has admitted that he's not a good debater. Doesn't exactly instill confidence in the Republican electorate when they know he has to face Obama on stage and field questions from a hostile and slanted press corps.
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Michele Bachmann was "in the arena" and her efforts mean more to America than the sum of our criticisms combined.
I salute her.
Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Brian Watt
Would prefer an A-list candidate who knows how to do 3 essential things: 1. debate without calling other Republicans heartless; 2. Not stumble over his answers; and 3. uh...uh...what's the third one? Don't tell me...oh yes...not be forgetful.
I don't think Perry's performance in public qualifies him as an A-list candidate. I don't want to feel sorry for the Republican nominee and make excuses for him all the time. Perry has admitted that he's not a good debater. Doesn't exactly instill confidence in the Republican electorate when they know he has to face Obama on stage and field questions from a hostile and slanted press corps. · Jan 4 at 10:33am
True, but do we want a slick debater with no core convictions?
Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Brian is right. If Perry's resume or record were the candidate, he might well be leading the field. But instead it's the man himself who is running, and what voters have seen of him has convinced them that perhaps he himself was not the driving force behind his record of success. Voters don't want a fumbling, tongue-tied candidate: it gives an impression of dullness, dimness and slowness.
Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Then we truly are like cats, much more interested in the packaging than the product.
Jun '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
The King Prawn
Brian Watt ...
I don't think Perry's performance in public qualifies him as an A-list candidate. I don't want to feel sorry for the Republican nominee and make excuses for him all the time. Perry has admitted that he's not a good debater. Doesn't exactly instill confidence in the Republican electorate when they know he has to face Obama on stage and field questions from a hostile and slanted press corps. · Jan 4 at 10:33am
True, but do we want a slick debater with no core convictions? · Jan 4 at 10:46am
I think that's going to extremes. I think every candidate to a greater or lesser degree has core convictions. It's difficult to believe that Romney doesn't firmly believe in the Founding principles or free market capitalism, for example. Santorum is a better debater than Perry and his core convictions seem pretty verifiable. The question could be asked of Perry if he really understands his own core convictions to the degree that Romney, Gingrich and Santorum understand theirs or the convictions they share. I've noticed that Perry almost uses the word "intellectual" in a derisive way.
Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Brian Watt
I think that's going to extremes. I think every candidate to a greater or lesser degree has core convictions. It's difficult to believe that Romney doesn't firmly believe in the Founding principles or free market capitalism, for example. Santorum is a better debater than Perry and his core convictions seem pretty verifiable. The question could be asked of Perry if he really understands his own core convictions to the degree that Romney, Gingrich and Santorum understand theirs or the convictions they share. I've noticed that Perry almost uses the word "intellectual" in a derisive way. · Jan 4 at 11:04am
Very valid. I'll let Professor Rahe's repeated expositions of Romney speak to the matter of his core. I really don't know enough about Santorum (yet) to pass a reasonable judgement on him. I like his substance in the debates but loath his style. I liked him as the Friday fill in for Bill Bennett, but beyond that I don't know much. He's been too much of a long shot to warrant serious study. I guess that changed last night.
Jun '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
The King Prawn
Brian Watt
I think that's going to extremes. I think every candidate to a greater or lesser degree has core convictions. It's difficult to believe that Romney doesn't firmly believe in the Founding principles or free market capitalism, for example. Santorum is a better debater than Perry and his core convictions seem pretty verifiable. The question could be asked of Perry if he really understands his own core convictions to the degree that Romney, Gingrich and Santorum understand theirs or the convictions they share. I've noticed that Perry almost uses the word "intellectual" in a derisive way. · Jan 4 at 11:04am
Very valid. I'll let Professor Rahe's repeated expositions of Romney speak to the matter of his core. I really don't know enough about Santorum (yet) to pass a reasonable judgement on him. I like his substance in the debates but loath his style. ...
Careful. You may be accused of focusing too much on style. Personally I don't care much for his sweater vests...but that's just me. :-)
May '11
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Santorum was right about the caucuses on Meet the Press. There were three contested Tuesday night; he won the conservative, Romney won the establishment and Paul won the libertarian all of whom had about equal numbers in Iowa. Going forward its going to be a numbers game in each state between these wings of the party. New Hampshire is an establishment state, South Carolina a conservative state and Florida is some of both. I think Paul will fade pretty quickly. Santorum can hang around for a while but probably doesn't have the organization to compete nationwide. This is Romney's to lose unless he really screws up.
Dec '10
Re: Bachmann Out, Perry Staying In
Brian Watt
Careful. You may be accused of focusing too much on style. Personally I don't care much for his sweater vests...but that's just me. :-) · Jan 4 at 11:25am
VDH states pretty well what the loose thoughts bouncing around in my head should become. I actually like the sweater vests. Someone had to wear them after Cain dropped out. There's some irony that I like Santorum's sweater vests and Romney's Mormonism, neither of which I can ever imagine myself in....