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Politics : Mainstream Politics and Economics -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (100)	8/30/2011 5:49:55 AM
From: Paul Smith	2 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 85487

A big difference between Perry in 2012 and Obama in 2008 is Perry has a long paper trail. He has been leading a state for 10 years. What that involves is both success and mistakes. Over the next year, we'll hear about mistakes he has made and they will likely be presented as reasons he would be a bad POTUS. If during his run in Texas he has ruled as a theocrat or inserted his version of religion into state policy, it will be widely known - so far I haven't seen that. My advice on Perry, with regard to concerns about how he might lead as POTUS, would be to look at how he has led in Texas for the biggest clues. Obama in 2008 was more of a blank slate. His paper trail was almost non-existent. His election was almost like a marriage to a person after the first date. Those that embraced him in 2008 were acting on some amount of faith with regard to what they were getting. I sense that even after more than 30 months as President, some people are still trying to get to know him while others are not sure that what they have is what they thought they were getting. Running as a blank slate guy has advantages. People can make assumptions about you and fill in the blanks by themselves with their own dreams and desires. Obama succeeded in part because many people saw in him what they wanted to see in him. Perry will not be a blank slate guy in 2012. People will have to accept him or reject him based on his concrete known history in public life. Obama in 2012 will also not be able to be the blank slate guy - not this time. Obama now has his own paper trail and people will have to embrace or reject him based on his now known history as POTUS. I continue to think that Obama needs to run a very negative campaign to win.