Former Bush Administration speechwriter and FrumForum Editor David Frum is unabashedly not a Perry supporter. He too joins the growing consensus that the Texas governor did really badly in last night’s debate. He only differs in just how badly he thinks Perry did.
Frum contends that Perry has opened himself up to the low-ranking challenger Jon Huntsman, and that the former Obama ambassador and Utah governor could actually challenge him from the right.
He points out that Huntsman is touting his jobs creation record in Utah, and saying that unlike the “Texas Miracle,” in Utah it was no miracle: it was easily explained through his Wall Street Journal-friendly policies.
Frum goes on to argue:
Now that Perry, the last great non-Romney hope, looks more and hopeless, Huntsman has a real chance to present himself as the Buckley candidate: the most conservative viable candidate. If this plan works, it will raise two thoughts: What a nimble piece of campaigning by Huntsman! Perry followed the obvious path (lurch hard right to gain the Tea Party, then pivot to the center to appear electable) – and tripped over his own feet. Huntsman did the opposite, feinting left to gain elite media support – then reasserting his previous conservative credentials on abortion and taxes.
