Gov. Perry at "The Response" in Houston
Even though it was billed as a non-political event, Governor Perry’s day of prayer and fasting at Reliant Stadium in Houston is being seen in Austin as a political success.
While controversial, the Governor did a masterful job of appealing to the people he’ll need in his corner if he’s going to make a run for the White House.
Veteran Democratic Strategist Jason Stanford points out that candidates in his political party often go to black churches to get their “religious votes out.” He also says the ability of the governor to get tens of thousands of people to show up in the August heat for a day of prayer and fasting is “a big deal. It establishes him as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.”
Stanford says Perry’s using this time as an unannounced candidate to lay the groundwork for his candidacy in a way that ensures he’ll be unstoppable when he finally does decide to get into the race.
Click here to listen to Jason Stanford (Right click to download)
Longtime GOP consultant Royal Masset, who ran thousands of Republican campaigns in his two decades as the Texas Republican Party’s political director, says Perry has an ability to wear his religion on his sleeve without seeming to average folks like a fringe fundamentalist. Masset also says it’s worth pointing out that many Evangelicals view former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as “an other” because of his Mormon faith. Perry’s campaign may find ways to exploit that, Masset says.
Click here to listen to Royal Masset (Right click to download)
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