Rick Perry is the longest serving governor in the history of the state of Texas and has launched a campaign based around strong statements on states rights and getting Washington off the backs of the people. His statements are somewhat in contrast to his long record as a government insider and supporter of federal programs. He is perhaps best known in Texas for his friendliness to large corporations and the inside deals and special favors which have been hallmarks of his administration. This is Perry's first debate and there is some speculation that he is not well prepared and may suffer based on his history of being a weak debate performer, or may even duck out at the last minute citing the wildfire crisis in Texas as a reason not to attend.
Ron Paul is probably the highest profile candidate. He is a 10 term Congressman from Texas known by his colleagues as "Dr. No" for his consistent opposition to any growth of government spending or programs and any legislation of questionable constitutionality. Paul ran for president in 2008 and his campaign launched the Tea Party movement and pioneered non-traditional fundraising methodology which has been adopted by other insurgent campaigns since then. Paul is a conservative libertarian politically who believes in minimal government and strict adherence to the Constitution and for his outspoken, sometimes irascible style.
Mitt Romney is a perceived frontrunner, but he has been running a very low profile campaign and losing ground to more active candidates. The former governor of Massachusetts has a strong business background and a successful record in office. He ran for president in 2008 and has high name recognition, but is somewhat tainted by his association with President Obama's public health care plan which was largely based on a plan Romney instituted in Massachusetts which has been plagued by budget overruns. This debate is Romney's opportunity to confirm that he is a frontrunner or end his campaign quickly with a bang.
Michelle Bachmann is a controversial Congresswoman from Minnesota who is best known for her association with the Tea Party movement and her extreme religious views which include strong opposition to gay rights and a call for a federal ban on pornography. Bachmann has a strongly fiscally conservative record and was a top contender in the polls until a few weeks ago when her numbers dropped into the single digits, possibly because of the entry of Rick Perry into the race and his appeal to the same demographic.
Article comments
1 - maggy simony
I'm so disappointed Buddy Roemer was not included. I believe he meets that 1% criteria and he has a message that the American public will embrace--the only candidate questioning our preposterous so-called "free" trade agreements.
How come?
2 - Dave Nalle
Actually, Gary Johnson and Ron Paul both have issues with the bogus free trade agreements, but I agree that it would be nice to give Roemer a chance.
As was the problem with Johnson until he did better in the last couple of polls, Roemer and also Thadeus McCotter did not poll 1% or higher in enough of the polls. 1% in a couple of polls wouldn't cut it. It had to be 1% or more in 5 national polls.
Dave
3 - Rey
Cumulative Results through September 17, 2011
Finish Potential candidate Percentage
1 Paul, RonRon Paul 19.74%
2 Romney, MittMitt Romney 14.27%
3 Bachmann, MicheleMichele Bachmann 8.08%
4 Cain, HermanHerman Cain 7.82%
5 Gingrich, NewtNewt Gingrich 5.72%
6 Pawlenty, TimTim Pawlenty 5.36%
7 Huckabee, MikeMike Huckabee 5.02%
8 Perry, RickRick Perry 4.77%
9 Palin, SarahSarah Palin 3.97%
10 Daniels, MitchMitch Daniels 3.71%
11 McCotter, ThadThad McCotter 3.07%
12 Santorum, RickRick Santorum 2.86%
4 - Baronius
I think it's suspicious that they invited candidates other than Gary Johnson. Considering the way he's rocketing in the polls (from 0% to 1% is an infinitely large percentage increase), it makes you wonder who's fixing the game to try to make other candidates look equal to him. Personally, I think the media has something against a Republican who has captured 1% of the public's imagination. Also, obviously, the Republicans are trying to destroy him because he's such a strong candidate that...ok, I haven't thought that one through, but the answer is bound to be obvious. Oh, wait, I got it, the Republicans don't want his message out there because they know it will win - no, that's why the press doesn't want his message out there - darn it, I almost had it.
I also wonder why Dave insists on calling Ron Paul the highest-profile candidate when he could say that about Gary Johnson. I mean, Paul is nowhere near the highest profile candidate according to any polls, but that hasn't stopped Dave from repeating it. So why not apply it to Johnson? And the Fox online poll supercedes, well, everything. Why do we even need a convention, or an electoral college, now that online poll results have been revealed?
5 - Jason
I'm going to play the "class warfare" drinking game with my friends tonight! Should be entertaining.
6 - Dave Nalle
Baronius, I call Paul the highest profile candidate because he by far gets the most web and news coverage.
Actually, according to Media Matters, in the last 3 months Gary Johnson has gotten the most coverage on FoxNews, followed by Paul.
Dave
7 - Dr Dreadful
Actually, according to Media Matters, in the last 3 months Gary Johnson has gotten the most coverage on FoxNews
He must belong to the same golf club as Murdoch.
8 - zingzing
Paul, RonRon Paul
Romney, MittMitt Romney
Bachmann, MicheleMichele Bachmann
Cain, HermanHerman Cain
Gingrich, NewtNewt Gingrich
Pawlenty, TimTim Pawlenty
Huckabee, MikeMike Huckabee
Perry, RickRick Perry
Palin, SarahSarah Palin
Daniels, MitchMitch Daniels
McCotter, ThadThad McCotter
Santorum, RickRick Santorum
sounds like a bunch of cheers. gooOOOO GOP, gogo GOP! gimme a G! gimme a O! gimme a P! seriously, my prostate is grossly enlarged and i'm at serious risk of cancer and a bladder infection...
9 - Dr Dreadful
They forgot zing, zingzing zing, zing.
10 - zingzing
buncha know-nothings.
11 - Chris Hunter
your snide comment about Ron Paul is incorrect. how about you do some fact checking before you try to insinuate or invalidate Ron Paul's wins. Bachman won Iowa because she paid for 4300 votes and Ron Lost by less than 200. Just because people that care to be informed and vote are supporting Ron Paul doesn't mean we are all bought and paid for. It just means you are becoming the minority.
12 - TRP
@GovernorPerry: Lower the tax burden on the small businessmen and women #gopdebate
13 - TRP
@GovernorPerry: We've taken those regulations off the throat of small businesses in TX #gopdebate
14 - TRP
TX is a right-to-work state. Fostering a climate where jobs can grow has led to the best state economy in the nation!
15 - George Berry
I would sincerely like to hear the candidates discuss the connection between liberal immigration policies and vote getting. Thank you.
George Berry
16 - pablo
Hey Dave you might wanna put a url that really works in your article. Here is the correct url for the debate.
17 - pablo
I of course was referring to the poll url that you have in your article.
18 - pablo
And of course as usual Ron Paul is leading the pack by more than 2/1.
19 - pablo
Correction on post 18
The link no longer works and if you click it now, this is the content:
"No content item selected"
It seems that Fox News has decided not to report on their own poll, as Ron Paul has won it in a landslide. So Fox does what it does best, it just removed the poll! I love a fair and balanced media. :)