Gov. Rick Perry, Presumptive GOP Nominee? Not so Fast

COMMENTARY | Iowans will be going to Ames Saturday for the famous Iowa straw poll. Although Texas Gov. Rick Perry is not on the ballot, some Republicans plan a write-in campaign to support him. While voters participate in the poll, Perry is expected to officially announce his candidacy for the White House. The charismatic politician has been flirting with a run for weeks. Now that he’s in, Perry is already being touted as a potential, even likely, winner.

But that may only last until Republican voters start really examining his record.

Gov. Perry claims to be a fiscal conservative who lowered taxes and spending during his 10 years in Austin. The opposite is true. Politifact rates the first claim as false. Perry has raised taxes numerous times during his tenure as governor. While few people would quibble over raising cigarette taxes (a favorite target of state politicians regardless of their stripes), he also raised taxes on business, fireworks and diesel-powered equipment.

He’s been no better on spending. In the last 10 years, Texas’ budget has almost doubled, from $49 billion to $90 billion. That’s not exactly shrinking government, and with the political right’s current obsession over keeping government as small as possible, neither of these records will help Perry.

Even with the tax increases, all that spending resulted in debt, another newly anathema thing to the right. In 2001, when Perry took office, Texas had slightly less than $14 billion in state debt. Today, that number has more than doubled. Nearly $11 billion in bonds were taken out to rebuild highways. Another $3 billion was issued for a cancer prevention center. Again, while this spending is either admirable or necessary, considerations such as those didn’t seem to matter much during the recent debt ceiling debate in Washington, particularly to the Tea Party.

But the worst thing on his record? The absolutely worst accusation you can make against any Republican today? That he isn’t really a Republican. And Perry hasn’t always been one. Back in 1988, Rick Perry was a Democrat. He actually served as Al Gore’s campaign chairman during the then-senator’s failed bid for the White House. He later claimed that he “saw the light” and switched parties, according to Time, but the damage is done. If there is any one thing that can be the kiss of death in today’s Republican Party, it’s to be a RINO (Republican In Name Only). Perry’s record on taxes, spending and debt will make it easier for his opponents to stick him with that label.

Gov. Rick Perry, even with his faults, is a compelling candidate. He will be difficult to defeat. But he’s not a shoe-in, either.


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