Idaho Statesman Logo

Small crowds speak to Perry's struggling, dying campaign | Idaho Statesman

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Boise
    • West Ada
    • Canyon County
    • Crime
    • State News
    • Nation/World News
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Idahoans in the Military
    • Weather
    • Traffic
    • Helping Works
    • In the Classroom
    • Our Community
    • Sports
    • Boise State Football
    • Boise State Basketball
    • Idaho Vandals
    • High Schools
    • Bronco Beat
    • Chadd Cripe
    • Varsity Extra Blog
    • NFL
    • NBA
    • NHL
    • MLB
    • Golf
    • Idaho Politics
    • Elections
    • Government and Business
    • Capitol & State
    • Letters from the West
    • National Politics
    • Business
    • Business Insider
    • Business Columns & Blogs
    • Personal Finance
    • Legal Notices
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Bill Manny
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Guest Opinion
    • Submit a Letter or Opinion
    • Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Restaurant Reviews
    • Arts and Culture
    • Festivals
    • Movie Reviews
    • Movie Showtimes
    • Music
    • Television
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Puzzles
    • Words & Deeds
    • ArtsBeat
    • Outdoors
    • Playing Outdoors Blog
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Fishing
    • Hiking and Trails
    • Hunting
    • Winter Recreation
    • Living
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Treasure
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Best of Treasure Valley
    • Heart of the Treasure Valley
    • Margaret Lauterbach
    • Tim Woodward
    • Carolyn Hax
  • Obituaries

  • Contests
  • Advertise
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

News

Small crowds speak to Perry's struggling, dying campaign

Marc Caputo - McClatchy Newspapers

    ORDER REPRINT →

January 18, 2012 04:21 PM

GREER, S.C. — Rick Perry walked into a pizza shop with eight news cameras trained on him, a dozen more reporters and a handful of Texas troopers and campaign staff.

At most, a dozen ordinary people waited for him Wednesday at Wild Ace Pizza.

This isn't what a top-tier presidential candidate's events should look like just four days before Saturday's South Carolina primary.

But Perry is no longer a top-tier candidate. And the crowds — or the lack of them — are just another indicator that Perry is about to lose his third race in a row after Republican front-runner Mitt Romney won in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Idaho Statesman

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

The tough-talkin' Texas governor, who used to brag that he'd never lost an election, is expected to leave the race before the Florida primary on Jan. 31, assuming he places fourth in South Carolina as polls show. A CNN poll released Wednesday showed him pulling only 6 percent of the vote.

"I don't know what really happened to him," says Larry Stinson, a 58-year-old disabled veteran who was part of the pizza parlor skeleton crew that met Perry in downtown Greer. "I hope he can turn it around. But I'm not sure about that."

Stinson shared with Perry a story about how Romney was "arrogant" to him last week during a stop at a Greer motorcycle shop. Stinson said he wanted to ask the former Massachusetts governor if he'd give up his presidential salary if elected.

"You're worth almost $250 million ... " Stinson said he started to ask Romney before the Republican front-runner cut him off: "Yes, I am."

Romney walked away and Stinson said he couldn't finish his question because he was blocked by a crush of supporters.

Stinson didn't have that problem Wednesday. He chatted up Perry in the restaurant and later on Trade Street, a postcard perfect stretch of mom-and-pop shops nestled among redbrick buildings.

Perry's anemic crowds sharply contrast with the buzz he generated last summer when he entered the race. At debates in Tampa and Orlando, he was mobbed. Perry expected the Republican Party of Florida's September straw poll would slingshot him into permanent front-runner status.

But Perry lost the straw poll to Herman Cain, then went on to stumble through debates. Perry has excelled during the past two debates in South Carolina, though Newt Gingrich stole each show.

Regardless, the vacancy of Trade Street during Perry's visit underscored how far he's fallen. His campaign bused in about 20 students — from Mercer University, a Georgia school; they can't vote in the South Carolina election. Still, they filled seats at Southern Thymes restaurant, where Perry spoke to about 80 people.

Perry bashed President Barack Obama for nixing on Wednesday the Keystone pipeline deal with Canada, saluted veterans and made a veiled reference to Romney, considered a moderate by many of his fellow Republicans.

"We don't need a lighter version of Obama," Perry said. "We need a powerful contrast between what Obama's done on this economy and what I've been able to do in Texas."

Perry was less political and more personal when he met voters on Trade Street.

When he wandered into the Acme General Store, he was met by three staffers and two shoppers. He killed time, talking in detail about his small-town upbringing with owner Denise Vandenberghe, 41.

Perry won her vote.

"He's real, he's genuine," she said. "He comes from a small town just like me."

If Vandenberghe were a betting woman, would she wager on who Saturday's winner would be?

"I'm not a betting woman," she laughed.

Three workers met him at Trims on Trade, a hair salon. Four employees of Sith & James Men's Clothing Store chatted with him later.

"Not every day on the campaign trail is joyous," Perry said.

"When you die, your wish won't be: I wish I made another dollar," he said. "Your wish will be: I wish I had one more day."

Spoken like a candidate whose days are numbered.

(Caputo covers politics for The Miami Herald.)

Related stories from Idaho Statesman

news

Romney unloads on Gingrich as polls show S.C. race tightening

January 18, 2012 03:23 PM

news

Obama heads to swing state of Florida for travel announcement

January 18, 2012 03:54 PM

news

Days before South Carolina votes, can anyone stop Romney?

January 17, 2012 04:47 PM

news

Romney paid only a 15 percent tax rate; Gingrich demands full story

January 17, 2012 04:11 PM

news

Romney's private equity record: Jobs lost, jobs created

January 17, 2012 02:15 PM

news

DNC shortens Charlotte convention to 3 days

January 17, 2012 10:16 AM

  Comments  

Videos

Two men impersonating FBI agents rob Florida home

They tried to cross the San Joaquin River in an SUV and got stuck. Fresno sheriff’s crew came to the rescue

View More Video

Trending Stories

Boise Hawks’ stadium to host big rock festival. Free beer in ticket price? Cheers, punk

February 19, 2019 11:58 AM

The million-dollar Boise home? Ho-hum. See who’s buying houses for $2 million and up

February 19, 2019 10:18 AM

Meridian wants an overpass fast, but road agencies don’t. So Meridian may cough up cash

February 19, 2019 01:05 PM

Oregon man saw Idahoans trespassing, so he held them at gunpoint until police arrived

February 19, 2019 03:35 PM

Owyhee officials: Search in snowy wilderness for man is now ‘a recovery incident’

February 19, 2019 11:36 AM

Read Next

Girl Scout put shirtless Jason Momoa on these Samoas and created a hot cookie demand

National

Girl Scout put shirtless Jason Momoa on these Samoas and created a hot cookie demand

By Kaitlyn Alanis

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 20, 2019 09:33 AM

Jason Momoa Samoas are a custom Girl Scout Cookie box designed by Colorado Girl Scout Top Cookie CEO and her mom. Charlotte Holmberg, of Highlands Ranch, said the shirtless man appeals to moms, girls and boys.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Idaho Statesman

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE NEWS

Idaho bounty hunters held a man at gunpoint. A judge just barred them from the profession

Crime

Idaho bounty hunters held a man at gunpoint. A judge just barred them from the profession

February 20, 2019 10:16 AM

National

Mom was called to the principal’s office — then busted out the dance moves, video shows

February 20, 2019 10:05 AM
Amazon knows it’ll increase traffic. Nampa’s making it cough up cash for road upgrades

Canyon County

Amazon knows it’ll increase traffic. Nampa’s making it cough up cash for road upgrades

February 20, 2019 12:03 AM
Vandals tried to burn a Confederate statue in NC — but it was the wrong General Lee

National

Vandals tried to burn a Confederate statue in NC — but it was the wrong General Lee

February 20, 2019 10:01 AM
Reports of ‘homophobic’ emoji set off online uproar. What’s going on?

National

Reports of ‘homophobic’ emoji set off online uproar. What’s going on?

February 20, 2019 08:44 AM
Civilians, including many children, leave IS-held enclave

Nation & World

Civilians, including many children, leave IS-held enclave

February 20, 2019 10:42 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Idaho Statesman App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story