Political Analyst Reflects On Perry's Debate Performance
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Tuesday night's New Hampshire debate centered on the economy. Once again, Governor Rick Perry referenced his forthcoming plan to put people back to work. It's a proposal to increase domestic energy production.
In making his case, Perry took a swipe at businessman Herman Cain's plan for a flat nine percent income, business, and sales tax. "We're sitting on the absolute treasure trove in this country, and I don't need 9-9-9. We don't need a plan to pass congress."
Veteran campaign manager and CBS 11 political analyst John Weekley watched the debate with CBS 11. He says while Perry made a good point about job creation, "I don't think he needed to hit on 9-9-9. I think he needed to say what we need to improve American competitiveness."
In another part of the debate, the candidates questioned each other.
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann from Minnesota compared Perry with President Obama. In criticizing the rising debt in Texas, she asked perry: "How can we trust you not to go down the Obama way?"
Perry responded: "Texas had the sixth lowest debt per capita when I started as governor in 2000, and today, Texas has the second lowest debt per capital in the U.S."
Weekley says perry held his own. "I thought he did very well without going back at Bachmann, which was smart to do."
So did the governor do what he needed to do? "He had to recover, and this is a good recovery," says Weekley. He adds it's too early to tell if Perry will get a bump in the polls.
Stylistically, Weekley says businessman Herman Cain won the debate, but that former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum also did well.
