Texas Governor Rick Perry’s indictment, initially seen as a political dagger in his 2016 presidential aspirations, could turn into an asset -- especially if he beats the abuse-of-power charges. “Every Republican in Iowa that I have spoken to thinks it is a politically motivated scheme to tarnish him as he prepares for the 2016 campaign,” said Jamie Johnson, a member of the party’s state central committee who last month introduced Perry at a county fundraiser in the state that will host the first presidential nomination contest. “This is going to backfire and it will help Rick Perry,” said Johnson. “It will cause people to rally around him.” Perry said yesterday on Fox News Sunday that he planned to vigorously fight the charges. “This is not the way that we settle differences, political differences in this country,” he said. “We settle our political differences at the ballot box.” So far, even Perry’s potential rivals -- and some Democrats -- are backing him. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, a fellow Texan, defended Perry with a weekend statement that called the charges “highly suspect,” while Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a longtime ally and friend, expressed support. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush dismissed the indictment as “ridiculous” and a “major overreach.” And Democrat David Axelrod, a former senior adviser to President Barack Obama, called the allegations “pretty sketchy.”
Posted on: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:23:08 +0000
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