Friday Ramblings with Robert

Stage Is Set

Now that all the primary races have been settled with the runoff that took place this week, we have a clear idea of the match-ups that voters will decide on in November.  The obvious headline race will be the Governor’s race between Phil Bryant and Johnny DuPree.  Johnny DuPree will look to make history and that will surely be played up in the media, but I just do not see it happening going up a very seasoned Phil Bryant who has won multiple statewide races already and seems to be pretty popular statewide.   The other two big races will be for Attorney General and State Treasurer.  Steve Simpson has a tough task to try to knock off the lone Democratic statewide officeholder in Jim Hood, who in his own right has some crossover appeal to a good segment in the state.  It could be a very interesting race to see if the electorate is ready to completely abandon the idea of voting for someone with a D in front of their name.  Simpson has the ammo to fire at Hood based on some of the decisions that have come from the Attorney General’s office that may not sit well with conservative voters.  Lynn Fitch obviously won her runoff this week for the chance to face off with Connie Moran, the Democratic nominee, for the State Treasurer post.  Both candidates are pretty unknown statewide though Fitch has had the advantage of being on the ballot twice already in primary season, so this race could come down to a party vote in November.

Could Rick Perry Be The Guy?

I have started following the 2012 Presidential Race, or more accurately the GOP Nomination Race, with more interest as our current President’s vulnerability is very high.  The biggest news of late in this process is the entry of Governor Rick Perry of Texas, who in just a couple of weeks has gone from not in the race to the head of the pack for the nomination.  As of right now this is a two horse race between Romney and Perry and Perry has the momentum on his side.  Perry also has someone very familiar to all of us on his side as well.

A second GOP source, this one based in Washington, D.C., said Barbour and Perry are in constant contact about the Texan’s just-launched presidential bid. The source said much of the Mississippi governor’s organization is likely to be folded into the Perry campaign, both in Florida and other states.

Perry has actually brought on Haley Barbour’s PAC Iowa director, Matt Gronewald, in the same capacity as his Iowa state director.  Perry seems to be courting the Tea Party vote,  which has become an important segment within the party, as well.  He will attend the forum being put on by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), a key Tea Party leader, while Romney has declined to attend.  There is still plenty of time to decide the best person to take on Obama in November 2012 so we will have to see how things play out, but right now it appears Perry has put himself in a good position and is surrounding himself with good people.