New Perry Iowa ad touts jobs over campaign polish

By Thomas Beaumont

Associated Press

Published: Monday, Oct. 31 2011 8:15 a.m. MDT

FILE - In this Oct. 25, 2011 file photo, Republican Presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks in Gray Court, S.C. They’ve rolled the dice. The top Republican presidential rivals are locked in a game of one-upmanship, each trying to outdo the other in offering the boldest economic plan for the party’s efforts to unseat President Barack Obama next November.

Richard Shiro, File, Associated Press

Enlarge photo»

Summary

Trailing in a new Iowa poll, Republican Rick Perry says in a new ad running there that his jobs record is more important than the candidate's on-camera polish.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Trailing in a new Iowa poll, Republican Rick Perry says in a new ad running there that his jobs record is more important than the candidate's on-camera polish.

The Texas governor is trying to convert criticism of his performances during recent debates into an asset by arguing that President Barack Obama -- and implicitly his chief GOP rival Mitt Romney -- are better speakers than leaders.

Perry says: "If you're looking for a slick politician, or a guy with great teleprompter skills, we already have that, and he's destroying our economy. I'm a doer not a talker."

Perry had support from 7 percent of likely Iowa GOP caucus-goers in a poll published Sunday by The Des Moines Register.

Perry, with an aggressive Iowa strategy, is expected back twice this week.

Comments