First to drop

Rick Perry will be first to drop out

The former Texas governor spent the last year and a half seeking to rehabilitate his image. It’s too late, insiders say.

By Katie Glueck

Forty percent of early-state Republicans and nearly half of early-state Democrats believe Rick Perry will be the first candidate to drop out of the presidential race.

That’s according to this week’s POLITICO Caucus, our weekly bipartisan survey of the top strategists, activists and operatives in Iowa and New Hampshire.

“No money and cannot gain traction, even though he has the best record and a superb message,” lamented an Iowa Republican. “Best retail politician I have ever seen, yet not able to pick up interest against a strong field. Where was this guy last time around?”

Less charitably, another Iowa Republican said, “When you’ve suspended all staff pay, the writing is on the wall. His team suggests he’ll have a memorable debate moment. Unfortunately for Rick Perry, that moment happened in 2011, oops.”

Those responses come following a rough week for the former Texas governor: News broke Monday that he is no longer paying his staff amid fundraising woes, a major setback for any candidate — but particularly for Perry, who after a disastrous presidential run in 2012, spent the last year and a half seeking to rehabilitate his image and emerge as a more serious contender. It’s too late, insiders said.

“He is out of money and out of time,” a New Hampshire Republican said.

“Perry’s just not getting the second look from voters he hoped for,” agreed another GOP Granite Stater. “He’s rehabilitated his reputation to some extent by being serious and competent this time, and he needs to consider that success.”

Jim Gilmore, the former governor of Virginia, was the runner-up for the first to drop out among Republicans.

“Jim who?” said one New Hampshire Republican.

“Does anybody know he’s in the race? He’s the only one not included in the Reagan Library debate. What is his base?” pondered another.

Several said they would have selected Perry, but noted that deep-pocketed super PACs backing him have pledged to keep him viable, and picked other candidates instead.

“I was going to say Rick Perry because of the layoffs of his campaign staff, but his Super PAC will carry him for a while longer,” a New Hampshire Republican said. “That leaves Bobby Jindal as my guess for the first drop out. Jim Gilmore hasn’t even dropped in, so I’m not counting him.”