Is Perry ready for his close-up?

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has entered the race for the Republican nomination
for president with high marks, applause and just the right amount of
irritated and fearful grumbling from Obama’s ever-shrinking left-wing
cheerleading squad of “mean girls” (and guys). With his first debate
appearance looming, the question for Republicans, Obama Democrats (not
to be confused with Democrats who are disappointed with Obama and turned
off by left-wingers’ nasty name-calling of the Tea Party and
Republicans) and the media is: Will Perry’s debate performances hold up
to scrutiny? Will the man match or exceed the hype?
 
The answer may actually be a mixed bag, which in the end will be a positive for the GOP and the nation. A healthy primary process where a general election voting public frightened of the failed current occupant of the White House is paying close attention this early in the process, demands excellence and, according to the polls, is weary and even disgusted with Obama’s ineptitude, invectives and inexperience, is a good omen for the future GOP ticket.  
 
Increasingly, the desperate shrieks of “racist!,” “right-wing slut!” and “take these sons-of-bitches out!” become mundane and meaningless, not to mention an out-an-out insult to the very people they are meant to incite. One can only cry wolf so many times before it falls on deaf ears.
 
So what will voters turned off by the loony left see when they tune in to check out the new guy joining the already impressive crop of GOP presidential candidates?
 
For maximum impact, Gov. Perry should avoid attacking his opponents — especially Mitt Romney. While it’s awfully early to make this call, the two of them will very likely be the GOP ticket. We just don’t know the order yet. It might be advisable for both to vie for president of the mutual admiration society, at least for the moment.
 
Perry should run on his strength and put it side by side with Obama’s record — jobs. Since June of 2009, 40 percent of all new jobs in the U.S. have been in Rick Perry’s Texas. The 14.5 million unemployed nationwide will be a tougher sell on slamming Perry on his jobs record, given the suffering they are enduring under President Obama.
 
For every potential voter who can be swayed by the left’s name-calling campaign strategy, there are likely at least two who care more about jobs. Paychecks, in the end, matter more than political party labels. Rather than focusing heavily on traditional Republican primary issues, Perry may want to consider using jobs to show Republican primary voters why he can beat Obama, attract independents, swing voters and Democrats, and, importantly, create a welcoming home for the labor union members and allies who will not tolerate the violent and threatening vitriol coming from labor union bosses.
 
While detractors have spent considerable amounts of time and oxygen debunking or explaining away the Texas job-growth numbers, suffice it to say, if that’s where the debate is between now and November 2012, it’s the debate we should be having and it greatly favors any Republican over Obama, and most notably, Gov. Perry. The fact so many are working diligently to find cracks in Perry’s job-growth record is an indication it’s impressive, even if a few hairline fractures are discovered.