A few items that caught my eye from the speech Texas Governor (and GOP presidential frontrunner) Rick Perry gave at the RPV fundraiser today in Richmond:
* It’s obvious Gov. Bob McDonnell, whose remarks preceded Perry’s has a warm relationship with the Texas Governor. McDonnell mentioned that both his mother and Perry are Texas A&M grads…that they talk frequently (usually about job creation…or so goes the spin) and Perry reciprocated the feeling, calling McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, “dear friends.”
* McDonnell made it clear that he’s chosen to endorse no presidential candidate just yet, but that he strongly prefers a governor in that role.
* The crowd was quite taken with Perry, giving him a rather spirited standing ovation when he was introduced. I even spotted a hand-made sign or two in the crowd, which at roughly 1100, was about four times the number of attendees the RPV had originally expected.
* Perry took oblique swings at his rivals for the GOP nomination, believing that he offered the clearest distinction with President Obama.
The real fun came afterwards, as the assembled pressies crowded around Perry to ask the burning questions…will you consider Bob McDonnell as a vice presidential pick (answer: way too early for that). What about the heat you’ve taken on immigration (he wants secure borders like everyone else — and jobs for folks, too, regardless of their color or the sound of their name). How about Michele Bachmann’s bizarre anti-vaccination jag? (he thought her stance was wrong, and his greatest concern in making that executive order was fighting cancer).
Twice Perry was asked about Eric Cantor’s remarks regarding budget offsets for budget relief. Perry remarked that the government does have a role to play and that with the size and scope of the budget, it ought not to be hard to find the funds to do those necessary things.
Overall, Perry was comfortable, confident and the crowd was enthusiastic. After chided the President for failing to spur economic growth, employment and saddling the economy with regulations it cannot afford, he did a rather nice pivot into the rhetorical arena too few politicians visit these days: optimism. He suggested that our best days are ahead and that Americans are willing to fight for freedom (the one word he says describes his entire campaign).
A good, solid speech that ends on an up note. No drama (aside from a possible security breach that was quickly taken care of before the main event) and no missteps.
