A volatile election cycle at best!
I'm not sure that Perry would get back into the race. Although, I know he hasn't closed his campaign account. And he did say that he withdrew from the race because he didn't see a path forward. He also said that he will run again because he didn't get in soon enough and didn't have enough time. I agree with that. If he had had enough time, he would be the frontrunner. His back surgery really hurt him coming out of the gate and onto national stage.
Even though he had a shaky beginning, his debate performances grew stronger and he was very well received at CPAC a few weeks ago. Did an excellent job. The people were still believing in him. So..... I think we could have buyer's remorse for not looking at Gov. Perry's record and only focusing on a few weak debate performances.
A friend of mine told me a guy he knows that is into shipping said that his contacts in China said that Gov. Perry has the best financial policy and would have made a better president than even Ronald Reagan. That is saying something.
What is going on now is the GOP Elite is having a war with those that want to end their reign, i.e., Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, Chuck Norris, Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and others.
I've looked at the remaining candidates and see the flaws. Santorum has a great social conservative record, but his fiscal record is the worst. He had the worst spending agenda of ANY Republican in Congress at the time.
Of course, don't need to go over how I feel about Romney.
Ron Paul's foreign policy is just not going to be feasible.
Mitch Daniels' isn't a social conservative, but has a good fiscal conservative record.
If Chris Christie thought he could win, he would have run. He isn't as conservative as some think. He does want to shut down all coal fuel technology for one thing.
No one wants another Bush. Jeb won't be it.
People don't seem to be warming to Newt, although, with his flaws, he still has a conservative policy record and the fortitude to bring TNT to the WH. Having had to look at the candidates again after Perry dropped out. I would have to say that I am liking Newt again. Romney helped me with that, BTW. lol
You are right, Romney's negative campaigning is keeping people from the polls. It is also true that in the districts where Newt won, the voting was up. That is something to watch.
You see what is going on? We had only ONE candidate that had both fiscal and social conservative records - Governor Rick Perry. He was the only stable guy with an unmatched documented record of conservative achievements and solutions, exceptional record of leadership, consistent, reliable and those "TRUE CONSERVATIVES" never noticed!! It makes me crazy to see that or even think about it!!!!!
The media is all but ignoring Newt, like they did Rick Perry. Perry is campaigning with him and is in Arizona right now. We will see if that helps Gingrich. It sure will put Perry in the eyes of the people and may be a plan to put him forward if all we have left is a brokered convention.
Regardless of what people think of Newt, I believe if he saw that Perry would be the best option, he would throw his support behind him and step aside. Newt doesn't have any reason to step aside now. No one has a sterling record. Romney is the only really flawed candidate, IMO. He is not "inherently" a conservative. He has to speak it, and it's still not believed - "I am 'severely' conservative." Whatever, dude.