Saying "there's nothing in America that freedom can't fix," Texas Gov. Rick Perry vowed Saturday to get the nation working again.
"The country is on a precipice. The disciples of John Maynard Keynes have created a debt crisis. It's time for a change -- not the rhetoric of change, but a record of change," Perry told a breakfast crowd at the Rosen Centre.
"You can't live free when government controls one-sixth of the economy," he declared.
To a standing ovation, Perry pledged, "Every day when I get up at the White House, I promise to try to make Washington, D.C., as inconsequential in your life as I can."
Before his speech, Perry spent more than an hour working the Rosen Centre ballroom, shaking hands and posing for pictures with supporters.
Introduced by Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon as "America's Jobs Governor," Perry said, "It's great to be in a state that picks presidents."
Perry kept his remarks brief, as he prepared to head to campaign stops in Michigan, another state angling for an early presidential primary date.
Though he did not stay for the Presidency 5 straw poll poll Saturday afternoon, Perry told the breakfast gathering that the "Florida straw poll is important."
Perry vaulted into the lead of national and state polls after entering the race last month, but his faltering performance in Thursday night's debate raised new doubts about the strength of his candidacy.
On the defensive throughout the Fox-Google debate, Perry wasn't able to fight out of tight corners. And his attacks on Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney frequently fell flat.
Though Perry received a warm reception from the 3,000 attendees gathered for the early morning breakfast, several state party delegates in the crowd privately admitted they were wavering.
"I might cast a protest vote," said one, suggesting he might opt for former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich or Texas Congressman Ron Paul.
Few indicated any support for Romney, who is perceived as Perry's toughest rival. A Quinnipiac poll this week showed Perry leading the former Massachusetts governor by 8 points in Florida. But the poll also had Romney beating President Obama in a general-election matchup in the state, while Perry and Obama were tied in a statistical dead heat.
Neither Perry nor Romney wasappearing at Saturday afternoon's straw poll, though both men's names will be on the ballot, which also includes Michele Bachmann (also not participating), Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman.
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or (772) 801-5341.
