NH Town Hall Audience Asked To Prove Citizenship At Rick Perry Event
MANCHESTER, N.H. (CBS) – People attending a Rick Perry event in Manchester, New Hampshire on Wednesday were asked if they were U.S. citizens.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mark Katic reports.
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Each reporter and attendee upon arrival at the Granite State Manufacturing building had their ID's checked. The company handles defense contracts for the government.
At the event, the Texas governor toured the facility and then touted job creation in his home state. Perry put the economic blame squarely on Washington and says it's time for change.
"I think it's time to create a part-time legislature where their pay is cut in half, their budgets are cut in half," he said.
He says he'd also cut the president's pay until the budget is balanced.
The crowd applauded his idea. Many said they too think Congress needs reform. But the question remains, how will Perry get lawmakers to pass his plan?
"I think the American people are who they work for," said Perry.
He says a part-time legislature works in Texas and in New Hampshire.
"New Hampshire's a great example of a part-time citizen legislature that goes in, gets their work done and then goes home and has jobs like everyone else has," said Perry.
Many voters said they were persuaded by Perry in the small setting.
"I get a better feeling from him now than I get from watching him on TV," Michael Morrell said.
But those who have only seen Perry on TV don't seem to be responding. He is only polling at 3% in the latest survey of New Hampshire voters. His poll numbers keep dropping after a series of big-time mistakes in the national spotlight.
Perry insists despite debate blunders, he can still sell his plans to the American people.
WBZ-TV's New Hampshire Bureau Chief Lauren Leamancyzk was at the event:
"I'm not a great debater, but that's beside the point. What I am is a leader of people, a leader of the second largest state in the nation, a job creator and a person who's got a vision," Perry argued.
WBZ-TV asked how he plans to get his campaign back on track.
"Oh I think we're on track," Perry said. "Now it's about real concrete plans. Here's my vision to get Americans back working again."
WBZ-TV's New Hampshire Bureau Chief Lauren Leamancyzk contributed to this report.
