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Profile: Rick Perry Profile: Rick Perry
(30 days later)
To his supporters, he's the man who fixed Texas and can answer the country's economic prayers. To his supporters, he was the man who fixed Texas and can answer the country's economic prayers.
But to his detractors, Texas Governor Rick Perry is a dim bulb in cowboy boots whose softness on illegal immigration and pay-to-play statehouse politics make him unfit for America's highest office. But to his detractors, Texas Governor Rick Perry was a dim bulb in cowboy boots whose softness on illegal immigration and pay-to-play statehouse politics make him unfit for America's highest office.
If there was a factory producing Republican presidential candidates to order, it would probably have conveyor belts full of Rick Perry prototypes. The Texas governor ticked many of the boxes on the party's wishlist. He's a socially conservative Christian with a record of cutting spending, who could boast that he restored to health the finances of the second largest state in the US, without raising taxes.
The Texas governor ticks many of the boxes on the party's wishlist. He's a socially conservative Christian with a record of cutting spending, who can boast that he restored to health the finances of the second largest state in the US, without raising taxes.
Humble childhoodHumble childhood
Like the Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney, he married his childhood sweetheart and has the kind of chiselled looks made for Mount Rushmore. Like the Republican front-runner Mitt Romney, he married his childhood sweetheart and has the kind of chiselled looks made for Mount Rushmore.
But unlike the Massachusetts millionaire, he has a personal narrative that millions of Americans can relate to - a humble childhood on a Texan cotton farm. But unlike the Massachusetts millionaire, he had a personal narrative that millions of Americans could relate to - a humble childhood on a Texan cotton farm.
Mr Perry entered the race relatively late in August. Voters greeted him as a conservative alternative to Mr Romney, and he immediately soared to the top of the polls and began hauling in campaign cash.Mr Perry entered the race relatively late in August. Voters greeted him as a conservative alternative to Mr Romney, and he immediately soared to the top of the polls and began hauling in campaign cash.
Since then, Mr Perry's candidacy has suffered a series of miserable debate performances, including one in which he was unable to recall the name of a US government agency he would eliminate if elected. His candidacy then suffered a series of miserable debate performances, including one in which he was unable to recall the name of a US government agency he would eliminate if elected.
After poor showings in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, Mr Perry withdrew from the race.
'Pay-to-play' criticised'Pay-to-play' criticised
And some conservatives have taken a dim view of his support in Texas for subsidised tuition at state universities for children of illegal immigrants, as well as his opposition to a fence along the southern border with Mexico.
Mr Perry began his political career as a conservative Democrat in the state legislature before switching parties and running for statewide office. He served as state agricultural commissioner and lieutenant governor under then-Governor George Bush, whom he succeeded in 2000.Mr Perry began his political career as a conservative Democrat in the state legislature before switching parties and running for statewide office. He served as state agricultural commissioner and lieutenant governor under then-Governor George Bush, whom he succeeded in 2000.
Since then, Mr Perry has been re-elected three times and, critics say, has enforced a hard nosed, pay-to-play culture in the state capital, in which groups and business who want something from state government must contribute to his political efforts.Since then, Mr Perry has been re-elected three times and, critics say, has enforced a hard nosed, pay-to-play culture in the state capital, in which groups and business who want something from state government must contribute to his political efforts.
Although his small government mantra is standard fare for Republicans, Mr Perry can point to his 10 years in charge in Texas, where he closed the state's budget deficit and continues to implement huge and controversial cuts to spending. Although his small government mantra is standard fare for Republicans, Mr Perry could point to his 10 years in charge in Texas, where he closed the state's budget deficit and continues to implement huge and controversial cuts to spending.
'Job creation''Job creation'
Mr Perry has sought to run on a record of job creation and fiscal discipline in Texas, potentially attractive accomplishments to an electorate that is deeply anxious about the economy and the government's budget deficit. Mr Perry sought to run on a record of job creation and fiscal discipline in Texas, potentially attractive accomplishments to an electorate that is deeply anxious about the economy and the government's budget deficit.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data reported in the Wall Street Journal, 37% of new jobs created since the end of the recession in June 2009 have been in Texas. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data reported in the Wall Street Journal, 37% of new jobs created since the end of the recession in June 2009 have been in Texas.
But there are different ways you can look at his record.But there are different ways you can look at his record.
Technically, the state budget is balanced but there are billions of dollars of unpaid bills, says Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, who has followed Mr Perry for 21 years.Technically, the state budget is balanced but there are billions of dollars of unpaid bills, says Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News, who has followed Mr Perry for 21 years.
And many of the new jobs are low-wage. More people are uninsured than any other state in the country and the de-regulation of business which is attractive for investment has increased pollution.And many of the new jobs are low-wage. More people are uninsured than any other state in the country and the de-regulation of business which is attractive for investment has increased pollution.
"But in politics if you are explaining, you are losing. And Perry is able to offer a crystal-clear anecdotal observation - 'We have created jobs and businesses have moved to Texas. I can do the same nationally'," Mr Slater says.
"To puncture that with an elaborate explanation, as his opponents will, will probably fall flat with many voters."
'Caricature''Caricature'
Some analysts wonder whether the US is ready for another Texan president, so soon after George W Bush, who ended his second term deeply unpopular, even in his own party. Some analysts wondered whether the US was ready for another Texan president, so soon after George W Bush, who ended his second term deeply unpopular, even in his own party.
"It's not just Bush fatigue but he will seem a bit of a caricature to some voters," says Mr Slater. But the question this year is that, with an electorate anxious for someone to steady our economic problems, could they overlook this if he presents himself successfully as the guy who can do it?""It's not just Bush fatigue but he will seem a bit of a caricature to some voters," says Mr Slater. But the question this year is that, with an electorate anxious for someone to steady our economic problems, could they overlook this if he presents himself successfully as the guy who can do it?"
There are several reasons why the independent voters who usually decide elections may pause for thought before backing the 61-year-old Methodist.There are several reasons why the independent voters who usually decide elections may pause for thought before backing the 61-year-old Methodist.
In Texas, he vetoed a ban on putting to death convicts found to be "mentally retarded" and there have been more than 200 executions during his governorship.In Texas, he vetoed a ban on putting to death convicts found to be "mentally retarded" and there have been more than 200 executions during his governorship.
On one occasion he made comments that seemed to endorse the movement in Texas to break away from the union. And he once said that he shot a coyote while out jogging, using a semi-automatic Ruger handgun that he was carrying at the time.On one occasion he made comments that seemed to endorse the movement in Texas to break away from the union. And he once said that he shot a coyote while out jogging, using a semi-automatic Ruger handgun that he was carrying at the time.
Early peak?Early peak?
He is ultra-conservative, says Peter Fenn, a Democratic strategist, and it's a sign of desperation with the current lacklustre field of candidates that they are suddenly looking to Rick Perry.He is ultra-conservative, says Peter Fenn, a Democratic strategist, and it's a sign of desperation with the current lacklustre field of candidates that they are suddenly looking to Rick Perry.
"Right now this is all about Republicans looking for their knight on a white horse and Perry is a reaction to that and to 'none of the above'.""Right now this is all about Republicans looking for their knight on a white horse and Perry is a reaction to that and to 'none of the above'."
Mr Perry could be like Rudy Giuliani in 2007, who peaked the moment he announced he was running, says Mr Fenn, who believes Mitt Romney is still the most likely Republican nominee.Mr Perry could be like Rudy Giuliani in 2007, who peaked the moment he announced he was running, says Mr Fenn, who believes Mitt Romney is still the most likely Republican nominee.
The Texan governor will face obstacles in appealing to America's political centre if he does win the Republican primary.The Texan governor will face obstacles in appealing to America's political centre if he does win the Republican primary.
But Mr Slater says the White House would be foolish to dismiss him as an extremist.But Mr Slater says the White House would be foolish to dismiss him as an extremist.
"Rick Perry has been underestimated ever since he was a young legislator running for Texas and he's never lost an election."Rick Perry has been underestimated ever since he was a young legislator running for Texas and he's never lost an election.
"If Obama underestimates this guy, it will be at his peril.""If Obama underestimates this guy, it will be at his peril."