The lane now cleared for Mitt

Texas Gov. Rick Perry knew this was coming — and he even said a few
weeks ago he wouldn’t be appearing at debates anymore, that they were a
waste of his time. It is easy to feel sorry for him after last night,
but it is no longer easy for Republicans to support him in his bid for
the presidency. Last night’s historic gaffe, when Perry argued he would
eliminate three federal agencies but then couldn’t remember one of them,
is probably his last straw.

While viewers can empathize with Perry momentarily forgetting what he planned to say, and we all often do the same thing, the moment underscored a Perry weakness — that he isn’t that interested, let alone knowledgeable, about policy. For someone who in his job has been forced to learn a lot about the energy industry, it was hard to believe the agency he couldn’t recall was the Department of Energy. And he plans to eliminate it?

The Herman Cain saga, and his continued defiance in the face of more accusations of harassment — combined with Perry’s flub surely now among the top 10 presidential debate moments of all time — have made Mitt Romney’s path to the nomination even easier this week than it was last week. He may not be liked or trusted by conservatives, but tell us who in this reality television show will beat him?

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