Rick Perry to go head to head with Mitt Romney

Battle for the Republican Party’s 2012 presidential nomination will be altered dramatically Saturday when Gov. Rick Perry (Texas) announces he is entering the race.


Perry’s declaration is expected to come in a 1 p.m. speech at the RedState conference in Charleston, S.C.


Once the Texan takes the plunge, former Gov. Mitt Romney (Mass.) will be presented with a conservative challenger who is widely seen as more electable than other tribunes of the right such as Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), and more charismatic than other alternatives such as former Gov. Tim Pawlenty.


Even last month, when Perry's entry into the race was by no means assured, a Gallup poll placed him a close second to Romney.
Also on Saturday, the Ames straw poll in Iowa may deliver a boost to some of the more marginal candidates — or drive them to the brink of withdrawal from the race. (Neither Romney nor Perry are competing in the straw poll.)


And this comes on top of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s decision to turn up at the Iowa State Fair on short notice Friday, reigniting speculation about a potential presidential run.


It all adds up to a serious upshifting of gears in a race that had been overshadowed in recent weeks by the battle over the national debt ceiling and the broader economic tumult.


Perry's announcement comes in the middle of the busiest four days in the Republican calendar so far, with all the candidates concentrated in Iowa, where the first of the party caucuses is scheduled for February.


The eight declared candidates, plus Perry, are seeking the Republican nomination to take on Barack Obama as he looks for a second White House term next November.


Perry did not take part in the debate in Ames, Iowa, on Thursday because he is not yet officially a candidate, but he is scheduled to visit the state on Sunday.


With the skirmishing almost over and the contest becoming serious, the only major question left is whether former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will join the race.


Palin kept speculation alive by putting in an appearance at the Iowa state fair, an agricultural show where the candidates were scheduled to make stump speeches throughout Friday.


Republicans in Iowa expressed resentment about the timing of Perry's announcement, which threatens to overshadow party events in the state this weekend. A straw poll of candidates, described by the organisers as the most important event in the Republican nomination calendar outside an election year, is to be held on Saturday night.


But Perry supporters in Iowa insisted the timing was not deliberately disruptive and that Saturday was the earliest he could have made the announcement.


Bob Schuman, a Perry supporter speaking on his behalf in the spin room after the debate, said Perry had said he would not make his announcement until after an evangelical prayer rally in Houston last Saturday and had stuck to that promise.


Although Perry was not in the debate, Schuman, in the spin room under a placard "Americans for Rick Perry", attracted as much media attention as representatives of the other candidates and even some of the candidates themselves.


Asked how Perry, who makes much of a record of job growth in Texas compared with the national unemployment rate of 9.1%, would campaign against Obama if he won the Republican nomination, he said: "Jobs versus no jobs."


But Obama's campaign adviser, David Axelrod, interviewed by ABC, challenged Perry's performance as governor. "When you examine the entire record, what's happened to education in that state, what's happened to healthcare in that state, it's a record of decimation, not of progress," Axelrod said.


Reviewing the debate, Schuman said: "No one really jumped out. Romney has made a decision to play safe but he can't keep doing that."


He looked forward to the next debate, in California in September, when Perry will be on the stage with the other candidates. "It will be very different next time," Schuman said.


Robert Haus, a veteran political campaigner in Iowa, who helped run the failed campaign of actor and Republican Fred Thompson in 2008, has to remain neutral until after this weekend because he is organising the straw poll. But, asked about Perry, he was enthusiastic.


"Perry is a candidate that can bridge the differences in the Republican party. He has a strong record on jobs in Texas and is deeply religious," Haus said, after a meeting of the right-wing Heritage group in Ames. "He can calm any angry room inside the Republican party."


Iowa, though a small state whose demographics, mainly white, are not typical of the US as a whole, plays a pivotal role in US politics as traditionally the first state to vote in either caucuses or primaries. A good showing can sink a campaign or propel a candidate from obscurity to frontrunner status.


The straw poll tonight, though invested with huge importance by some of the candidates, has with hindsight proved to be a poor indicator of the eventual result in Iowa.


The liveliest parts of the two-hour debate in Ames were feisty exchanges between Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who is close to the Tea Party movement, and the former governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, a dull campaigner who has so far failed to make much of an impression.


Needing to win or at least achieve a second or third place in the straw poll, Pawlenty denigrated the record in Congress of Bachmann, who is the frontrunner in polls in Iowa. Adopting a patronising tone, he said Bachmann had done little in her five years in Congress. "She has done some wonderful things in her life but it is an indisputable fact that her record of accomplishment and results is nonexistent," he said.


But he picked on the wrong candidate. Bachmann came back recalling his record in office as governor on health, energy and trade. "That sounds a lot more like Barack Obama's record," she said.


Although Bachmann appeared flustered and at one point even disappeared briefly from the stage, with the television anchor telling viewers that one of the debate candidates was missing, Pawlenty repeatedly fluffed his prepared lines.


Afterwards, in the spin-room, Nick Ayers, Pawlenty's campaign manager, accused Bachmann of starting the fight, claiming she had gone along to the debate with "a pre-planned assault full of misstatements and factual inaccuracies".


Former governor of Utah Huntsman made his debate debut. He has struggled in the polls, too close to the centre for many conservatives and also, unforgivable for many Republicans, he worked in the Obama administration as ambassador to China.

Romney worth up to $264 million; earned up to $68,000 per speech before campaign

Mitt Romney may not be in Ames, Iowa, today for the Straw Poll but he's not immune to attacks from his competitors, especially those from Bill Burton, former White House spokesman who is now with the pro-Obama PAC "PrioritiesUSA," and dedicated an entire memo to the GOP contender this morning.


Burton, in an e-mail blast earlier titled "Romney's artificially low expectations in Ames," railed against Romney for claiming that he's not participating in this year's Straw Poll. Burton writes, "The Romney spin that they aren't competing or even concerned about the results in Iowa doesn't stand up to the facts."


"Romney has enlisted a string of high-profile Iowa endorsers, leads public polling in Iowa and is sitting on $13 million in campaign cash, not counting his vast personal fortune," said Burton. "He participated in the Iowa debate on Thursday, his campaign touted the 10,000 Iowans that joined his tele-town hall, and his campaign is quietly pushing people to attend Ames."


The Romney campaign pushed back on Burton's remarks, with spokeswoman Andrea Saul telling ABC News, "President Obama should spend more time worrying about creating jobs for the millions of Americans out of work, instead of spreading false information about Mitt Romney."


The campaign also noted to ABC News that despite allegations that suggest otherwise, the Romney campaign has not spent a dime on the Iowa Straw Poll this year. No money has been put toward luring voters to Ames or for any ads surrounding the event, according to the campaign.


A source close to the Romney campaign told ABC News that despite allegations, the Romney campaign has not spent a dime on the Iowa Straw Poll this year.


Romney himself has said repeatedly that his decision not to participate in the Iowa Straw Poll -- or any straw polls this election cycle -- is because he wants to focus his money and time on getting the support of actual delegates.


The numbers underscore an issue that poses both a benefit and a challenge for the former Massachusetts governor, who points to his business experience as evidence of his ability to lead the country.


But Romney, who grew up in a wealthy family before expanding his fortunes at the Bain Capital equity firm, also has struggled to portray himself as a candidate in touch with the lives of regular voters.


At an Iowa appearance this week, Romney sparred with hecklers urging him to raise corporate taxes by responding: “Corporations are people, my friend.” GOP challenger Tim Pawlenty also made light of Romney’s wealth during a Thursday night debate in a quip about mowing his lawn.


Romney is far richer than most, if not all, of his presidential rivals. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama reported assets between $2.8 million and $11.8 million in 2010. The only other candidate who might exceed Romney in personal wealth, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr., has yet to file a disclosure.


In addition to his sprawling investments, Romney was paid more than $374,000 for nine speeches in 2010 and 2011, including a speech at Clark Consulting in Half Moon Bay, Calif., for $66,000 and two appearances worth $68,000 each for Goldentree Asset Management and the International Franchise Association.


His most recent reported speech, for Barclay’s Bank in Washington, made him $42,500 in February, as he was preparing for the start of his presidential campaign, the records show.


Romney also owns horses worth up to $500,000 through a limited-liability company; one of them won a prize of less than $201, the report shows.


The financial disclosures — which are expressed in broad ranges rather than precise numbers — suggest that Romney could be worth as little as $85 million or as much as $264 million. His campaign said that “a more accurate range” is between $190 million to $250 million.


Campaign officials said the holdings of Romney and his wife, Ann, are managed in a blind trust administered by an attorney at Ropes & Gray in Boston, a firm long tied to the Republican candidate and his inner circle. “They do not control the investment of these assets,” said campaign spokeswoman Gail Gitcho.


Romney’s investments span a broad spectrum of the global economy, including energy, finance, health care, industrial firms and telecommunications and high technology, the records show.


His assets are held in more than 160 funds controlled by a variety of major investment firms, including BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, Rabobank Nederland and Bain Capital. Romney also reported up to $500,000 in Ford Motor Co. stock and up to $250,000 in Marriott International.

Romney skates amid Pawlenty, Bachmann slugfest

Tim Pawlenty’s attacks on her drew surprised whispers. When the Minnesota congresswoman jabbed back, there were murmurs. When she disappeared from the stage following a commercial break, the debate paused as everyone wondered aloud what had happened. And then there was the question from debate moderator Byron York on whether Bachmann would be submissive to her husband if she became president.

York, of the Washington Examiner, reminded Bachmann that she had previously said she became a tax attorney because Marcus Bachmann wanted her to, and that wives should be submissive to their husbands. “Would you be submissive to your husband as president?” he asked. The question elicited a collective gasp from members of the press assembled inside the Coliseum.

Bachmann stayed silent for a beat, her face unreadable. Then: “Thank you for that question, Byron.”

Bachmann then explained how, in her 33-year marriage, submission means respect — and “I respect my husband. He respects me.”

The press inside the event and Bachmann’s team agreed: Good answer.

“They wouldn’t ask a man that,” Bachmann spokeswoman Alice Stewart said after the debate. “But the answer was spot-on. She clearly has a different definition of submission than some people, and I think she did a great job clearing it up.”

It was the sharpest moment of a debate punctuated by aggressive attacks on a level unseen so far in the presidential race. Pawlenty, who declined an opportunity to attack Mitt Romney during the last debate, pulled no punches this time around — but he directed most of his fire at Bachmann, his key rival heading into Saturday’s straw poll.

oderator Chris Wallace pointed out, there aren't many worse things a Republican can say about another Republican these days than they remind them of the president. But Bachmann didn't back down, saying that while Pawlenty backed Obama-like policies as governor, she has fought them every step of the way.

Pawlenty countered by arguing, essentially, that Bachmann has been a failure - after stating that "she's got a record of misstating and making false statements. And that's another example of that list."

"She fought for less government spending, we got a lot more," Pawlenty said. "She led the effort against ObamaCare, we got ObamaCare. She led the effort against TARP, we got TARP. She said she's got a titanium spine. It's not her spine we're worried about, it's her record of results."

"If that's your view of effective leadership with results, please stop, because you're killing us," he added.

Ouch.

In the spin room afterward, Bachmann spokesperson Alice Stewart told me Bachmann "wasn't going after anyone" during the debate - suggesting, contrary to the evidence, that the congresswoman's only aim during the debate was to talk about her record. Stewart also said that while the Bachmann campaign had released documentation to back up its claims, they were "still waiting" for Pawlenty to do the same.

Pawlenty representative Sarah Huckabee Sanders, meanwhile, suggested Bachmann "came into the debate tonight looking to attack" - despite the fact that Pawlenty took the first shot. She pointed to the fact that the Bachmann campaign handed reporters a document immediately after the fireworks entitled "The Big Government of Tim Pawlenty" that included a number of attacks on the former governor.

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Pawlenty has been hobbled by the notion that he is too "nice" to be president - his decision not to attack Romney on health care in the second debate seriously hobbled his campaign - and he appeared determined Thursday night to show himself to be a fighter.

"I don't think anybody will question whether he is tough enough to be president" after this debate, Huckabee Sanders told me. "I think he answered those questions tonight."

Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's spokesman, said the fact that the other candidates fought it out while Romney largely remained unscathed "helped point out Governor Romney's unique ability to focus on the president."

"The opponent is the Obama administration and its policies," Fehrnstrom continued. "Campaigns are a lot about focus, and that's what he's focused on." He added that Romney "doesn't view" the other Republicans on the debate stage as his opponent.

That will likely change as the field is winnowed. But Romney's decision to essentially skip Saturday's straw poll now looks particularly wise, since it helped keep the target off his back.

Republican presidential candidates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks as Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, listens during the Iowa GOP/Fox News Debate at the CY Stephens Auditorium in Ames, Iowa, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011. (Credit: Pool,AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

There was more harsh back and forth between Bachmann and Pawlenty -- at one point Pawlenty called Bachmann's comments "illogical" -- but let's put that aside and talk about the other candidates. Newt Gingrich also got into a battle Thursday night, but, oddly enough, it was with the Fox News moderators. Asked by Wallace about his campaign having been a "mess so far," Gingrich accused Wallace of "gotcha questions."

"I'd love to see the rest of tonight's debate asking us about what we would do to lead an America whose president has failed to lead, instead of playing Mickey Mouse games," added Gingrich, who appeared exasperated for much of the evening. Countered Wallace: "Speaker Gingrich, if you think questions about your records are Mickey Mouse, I'm sorry. I think those are questions that a lot of people want to hear answers to, and you're responsible for your record, sir."

Later, questioned about his seemingly inconsistent position about intervention in Libya, Gingrich accused moderator Brett Baier of another "gotcha question." He suggested his contradictory quotes had been taken out of context, adding, "the fact that I was commenting on Fox about a president who changes his opinion every other day ought to be covered by a Fox commentator using all the things I said, not handpicking the ones that fit your premise."

Meanwhile, an ideological tussle broke out between Ron Paul, a strong advocate for states' rights, and Rick Santorum, who said social conservative values should essentially override them.

"We have Ron Paul saying, oh, what the states want to do -- whatever the states want to do under the 10th Amendment's fine," Santorum said at one point. "So if the states want to pass polygamy, that's fine. If the states want to impose sterilization, that's fine."

"No, our country is based on moral laws, ladies and gentlemen. There are things the states can't do," he added. "...I respect the 10th Amendment, but we are a nation that has values. We are a nation that was built on a moral enterprise, and states don't have the right to tramp over those because of the 10th Amendment."

Paul, as usual, was most animated on the issue of reducing the U.S. military presence abroad, at one point looking genuinely angry as he shouted, "It's trillions of dollars that we're spending on these wars!" The comment elicited a mixture of boos and applause from the audience.

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Making his debate debut was former Utah governor and ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, who was polished, smooth, and somewhat forgettable amid all the fireworks. His best line came when asked about alleged cyber espionage from China, when he turned his experience as ambassador in the Obama administration into an advantage. "I think it would be great thing," he said, "to have a president of the United States who knew something about China." If the campaign turns to a focus on foreign policy, Huntsman could emerge as a serious contender.

Cain, the breakout star of the first debate, largely looked out of his depth this time around; at one point, a moderator explicitly referenced some of his past comments and asked if he simply wasn't quite ready for the job. Cain's most buzzworthy moment came when he said "never will I apologize for saying that Sharia law does not belong in the courts of the United States of America," prompting applause from the audience.

All the candidates stressed their opposition to raising taxes - and Romney and Pawlenty maintained they always had, even when confronted with evidence suggesting otherwise. Romney seemed to set up a contrast with Texas Governor Rick Perry, a strong rival who is entering the race Saturday, in stressing that he hasn't spent his whole life in government. Perry has worked his way up through the political ranks in Texas.

Asked about Romney's statements, Bob Schuman of Americans for Rick Perry told me, "well, [Perry] was a rancher first." He then went after the former Massachusetts governor.

Perry "has been a successful politician, and I think being a successful governor as opposed to being a mediocre governor trumps being a businessman," Schuman said.

The most awkward moment of the debate came when Bachmann was asked about her past comment that wives should be submissive to their husbands. Asked moderator Byron York: "As president, would you be submissive to your husband?"

Bachmann paused for a few moments before quipping, "thank you for that question, Byron." She then went on to offer up something of a non-answer.

"Marcus and I will be married for 33 years this September 10th. I'm in love with him. I'm so proud of him," she said. "And both he and I -- what submission means to us, if that's what your question is, it means respect. I respect my husband. He's a wonderful, godly man, and a great father. And he respects me as his wife. That's how we operate our marriage. We respect each other. We love each other."

From a policy perspective, however, the most important issue of the night centered on taxes. Congress has just formed a "supercommittee" to seek deficit reduction, and while most Democrats insist any deficit reduction plan include revenue increases, most Republicans say revenue increases should not be included. The candidates were asked if there was any ratio of spending cuts to tax increases they would accept - even up to ten to one.