Consider the plight of Rick Perry. Ever since the former Texas governor launched his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, nothing has seemed to go quite according to plan. First, Perry fell out of the top ten in an average of national polls that Fox News used to determine which contenders would appear on the prime-time debate stage and which would be relegated to the “undercard” event. Word that the Perry campaign would have to ask staff to work without pay provided further evidence that the accomplished Texan was in trouble.
Making matters worse, Perry’s performance at the debate was objectively satisfactory but somehow, at the same time, obviously insufficient. As usual, he invoked his 14 years as the governor of Texas and highlighted several measures of the state’s remarkable performance during that time. No candidate, on either stage, made more reference to concrete results. None expressed more confidence in the future of the country. But it has been clear since Perry announced his campaign on June 4 that he, more than any other candidate, would be held to a pitilessly high standard. Four years ago he was the king of beasts. This time around, he may be Cecil the lion.
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