It's hard to tell who's had a worse month: Michelle Bachmann or Mitt Romney.
Rick Perry's long-anticipated – and dramatically orchestrated – plunge into the Republican presidential primary contest cut both of the front-runners' prospects deep.
Gov. Perry clearly undercuts Bachmann evangelical support – her strongest base – and Romney's overall polling numbers, especially those outside of the Northeast.
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In fact, the pundits on both sides love to talk about the Romney Problem when attacking the former Massachusetts governor. And I'm not talking about his ability to compromise, work with the opposition on a consistently bipartisan basis as an effective chief executive or appear as a cool, collected leader – all traits that seem to rile up an increasingly enflamed, partisan electorate.
I'm referring to health care reform, a cross Romney continues to bear and refuses to adequately address. I've already laid out a plan so simple, a journalist could understand it. But for some reason, Romney's team refuses to do anything about it, so both Republicans and Democrats alike can beat the governor with the Romneycare stick throughout both the primary and general elections.
Well, the new kid on the block, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, has his own Romney problem. A fierce advocate of – among other things – the power of the states and against the growing federal monster, Perry continues to argue his state's well-being makes him the best chief executive for the job.
Problem is, the governor's been more than happy to take those same federal funds he mocks on the campaign trail. Through the first half of this year, Perry's taken more than $17 billion in stimulus funds, while actually balancing the last two state budgets with the help of federal tax dollars.
Now, I'm not saying that disqualifies him as a candidate or makes him unelectable. Far from it. I'm just saying Perry isn't necessarily the spotless lone crusader against federal evil he claims, or if he is, he doesn't mind taking their handouts from time to time.
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