P-E-R-R-Y. Perry. (Leschnyhan/Dreamstime.com)
Jonathan Martin reports that Rick Perry doesn't plan to shake things up, despite getting battered over the past few weeks by attacks from Mitt Romney and his own weak debate performances.
The Texan’s aides downplay the tele-town-halls Perry had Monday night with Iowa and South Carolina Republicans as having been long planned — not exercises in reassurance. And the economic speech Perry has slated for Friday won’t feature a major policy rollout.
“We’re not going to change what we’re doing,” said Perry spokesman Mark Miner. “It’s a long race.”
According to Martin, Perry will, however, step up his attacks on Mitt Romney.
“Romney’s words are our best offense — the fact that he’ll say anything and change his position based on which way the wind is blowing,” said Miner, dismissing any assessments from “a pundit sitting in a swivel chair in a TV studio.”
Perry campaign manager Rob Johnson said they were “staying the course” and pointed to Romney’s soft support to argue that it is the former Massachusetts governor who should be concerned.
“Isn’t the real question when the Romney folks are going to hit the reset button again?” asked Johnson.
I believe the Perry folks when they say they'll hit Romney harder, but when they say he won't make changes in his approach to the campaign, I don't believe it for a second. First of all, attacking Romney more directly does represent a shift in the campaign. Second, you can bet your last nickel that Rick Perry is going to take steps shore up his right flank, steps like proving that he hates immigrants every bit as much as the rest of the Republican Party. Third, and most importantly, Rick Perry has been a politician his entire adult life, and if there's one thing politicians know how to do, it's how to change direction.