Clearly, most Republican voters would much prefer a very, very, very conservative nominee to the more buttoned-down Romney. (Even if he has shed his pinstriped suits and nice ties in favor of sports shirts and khakis, he still looks like he could be a Haggar slacks model.) It's unclear whether they want, or will end up supporting, Perry—but, obviously, they want a Perry-like conservative. But it comes down to Perry's capacity to turn the corner, to become a national, as opposed to a Texas or a Deep South, candidate.
Before Perry stumbled in the debates, I said it was coming down to a Romney-Perry race. (When will I learn to stop predicting?) Since then, it's become a Romney vs. conservative-of-the-week as GOP voters try on one non-Romney after another. There is the strong sense, I think, that if Romney is the nominee, Republicans will have settled again instead of going with the strongest conservative,which would greatly diminish the point of getting Obama out of the White House.
Comments
Be careful what you wish for. I can imagine a cringe-worthy debate between Perry and Obama. "So, Gov. Perry, what did you say the name of your hunting club was?"
The problem with running the strongest conservative is that you end up with a replay of 1964. Presidential elections aren't won by one party or the other - they are won in the center, by appealing to the independent voter.
It would be easier to sell voters on the idea that they should fear the excesses of one party rule than to sell them on any particular proposals on immigration, foreign exchange, etc.
Black journalism from WAPO will not turn conservatives against Perry, but Perry's own indiscretions in the areas of Immigration and cronyism most certainly did.
Latest Zogby poll has Cain at 38%, Romney at 18% and the Texans in tie for third at 12% - and then there are the "also-rans" who need to drop out.