Perry First GOPer to Fall, Who’s Next

By
Allison Leslie
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Former Texas governor Rick Perry became the first GOP presidential candidate to exit the 17-candidate field.

Calling it the “strongest field in GOP history” Perry said he leaves the GOP in “good hands”.

 

But that’s not really correct is it?

The GOP of 2015 offers a party harshly divided by angry, disillusioned voters and delusional Establishment apparatchiks and their money-supply of benefactors.

Perry represented three Texans in the field including former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Senator Ted Cruz. Bush has soaked up huge amounts of Establishment-backed donors while Cruz has quietly earned “hard money” from rank-and-file Americans. Despite having the most prosperous economy in the nation, Perry just couldn’t draw enough support from Texas or anywhere else.

 

With the next GOP debate scheduled for Sept. 16th on CNN, we could see other candidates fall by the wayside. South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, former New York Governor George Pataki, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and even New Jersey Governor Chris Christie all appear to be hanging by a thread. The combination of campaign finance challenges and low poll results add up to difficult circumstances.

But a great showing in the next debate could turn things around. Carly Fiorina dominated the early debate portion of the Fox News debate where several candidates not meeting certain polling criteria were relegated away from the prime time debate. Fiorina’s performance helped her graduate to the “adult table” on Sept. 16th.

Bush, despite multiple campaign gaffes and just a listless outlook overall, has enough cash to make it through several primaries. But all of the aforementioned candidates will need stellar efforts in the next debate in order to survive.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, an early non-Establishment favorite, dropped down the polls after a poor first debate. He just cancelled a speaking engagement in California and rumors are swirling about him pulling out.

Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson is second only to Donald Trump in the polls. Ohio Governor John Kasich, who could assume the mantle as the Establishment’s choice should Bush falter, is hovering in the Top 5. Florida Senator Marco Rubio needs a game-changer.

As candidates drop out, Super PACs and donors may start to move their chips to other candidates. A top performance in the next debate could provide a primary-boosting life-saver.

Allison Leslie
http://newstalkfl.wpengine.com
Allison Leslie is a University of South Florida graduate with a bachelors degree in Mass Communications. She joined Genesis in 2016. With a passion for sports, Allison has interned with 620 WDAE, Pewter Report, Trifecta Team: St. Petersburg Bowl, Bullscast, and many other publications. Being a native to the Bay Area, she has followed and supported Tampa Bay teams her whole life.