Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) was enthusiastic Wednesday about the prospect of changing the way the GOP conducts presidential debates — perhaps because those changes would create fewer opportunities for candidates to make gaffes.
When Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) told a meeting of the Republican Governors Association that the Republican Party should “end the stupid way we conduct presidential debates,” Perry called out “Hell, yeah” to laughter from attendees, according to Bloomberg News.
Perry was widely mocked after his performance in a primary debate for the 2012 presidential nomination, in which he failed to remember the third of three federal agencies he would eliminate if elected president.
Perry announced this year that he would not seek reelection, leaving the door open for another presidential run in 2016. The Republican National Committee’s plan to hold fewer debates in the 2016 election cycle could mean fewer “Oops” moments should the Texas governor launch a bid.
“Hell yeah!!!” Says @GovernorPerry to laughter when @JohnKasich says need to change prez debates process to pick better candidates
— Kelly O’Donnell (@KellyO) November 20, 2013
