2011 Essays

Rick Perry and Republican Magical Thinking

Mitchell, Lincoln A.

There has always been a bit of magical thinking behind Perry's candidacy as the Texas governor was expected to ride onto the national political stage from the far right and somehow, despite having no experience outside of Texas, little knowledge of the economy or foreign policy and having done very little preparation or groundwork, sweep the nomination away from Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann and other Republican aspirants. In this regard, Perry existed as much, and probably more significantly in the minds and hopes of Republican operatives than as an actual candidate.