Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas
Governor Perry’s once again pouring fuel on the fire when it comes to speculation about his possible run for president. He’s launched a slick website to promote a day of prayer he plans to host in Houston in August.
Perry writes on the site, in part: “Right now, America is in crisis: we have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural disasters. As a nation, we must come together and call upon Jesus to guide us through unprecedented struggles, and thank Him for the blessings of freedom we so richly enjoy.”
The site also features a video of what appear to be average folks talking about the nation’s struggles as well as their own personal challenges.
Jews, Muslims, and others are welcome, but organizers say this is a Christian prayer event.
Spokesman for the event, Eric Bearse, told me this morning that this isn’t political. “Any time thousands of people come together in prayer, that’s bigger than any one person,” Bearse said. As for critics who will undoubtedly speculate about whether this is all about Perry’s presidential aspirations: “We’ll pray for them more than respond to them,” Bearse said.
Bearse is working for the American Family Association and is also a former political speechwriter for Perry. You can hear my interview with Bearse at CBSDFW.com
This is one of the things I talked about on CBS 11 News with Tracy Kornet. Watch:
Dallas Morning News Senior Political Writer Wayne Slater said this is the kind of thing that can’t hurt Perry with social conservatives if he decides to run for president. “An all-day prayer session in a football stadium in Texas is going to go down very well,” he said.
Right now, there’s no obvious choice for social conservatives in the field of GOP presidential candidates. Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and Baptist preacher, has decided not to run. Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, popular with social conservatives as well, is being dodgy about her plans.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is in the race, is a social conservative, but isn’t widely considered to be a candidate who has a shot of winning the GOP nomination.
