Flawed as a presidential candidate, Rick Perry’s hunger to debate the man he called “the smooth politician in the White House right now,” will have to wait now until,  maybe never.

What a showdown it might have been.

On the topic of border security, Barack Obama would have fired blanks. The barrel of Perry’s Kimber 1911 would still be smoking after contesting Obama’s March 2011 assertion, “the Texas border with Mexico is safer than ever.” Back then, Perry countered, saying Obama had “either the poorest intel of a president in the history of this country, or is an abject liar to the American people.”

Perry’s first-hand attestation to ten years of being ignored by the federal government in stemming the flow of illegals and battling back the drug cartels is indefensible. In a dual, Perry could duly pin the death of Border Patrol Agent, Brian Terry, a victim of the Fast and Furious debacle, on Obama and the mendacious Eric Holder’s tapered shoulders.

The payback among all gotcha moments might have seen Perry reminding Obama of the royal snub given him at Austin Airport in August 2010. Unlike Governor Jan Brewer’s tense exchange with Obama at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport on Wednesday, Perry’s fell flat.

There, on the tarmac, Perry waited to welcome Obama. In his hand was an envelope containing a personally written letter detailing in great specificity the border problem. In it Perry wrote, “American lives, jobs and safety depend on a more robust federal commitment to border safety and security and request for more federal assistance.”

Descending the steps from Air Force One, Obama curtly gestured to Perry that the envelope be given to Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, trailing the rung behind him. Their cursory meet-and-greet handshake was brief, a few words exchanged, and within moments Obama was whisked into an awaiting limousine heading for a fundraiser.

Forsaking veracity, Obama’s arrogance carried into El Paso nine months later with a made-for-the-moment spoof of Republicans wanting a moat with an alligator to protect American citizens this side of the Rio Grande.

In skirting Perry in Austin, Obama exposed his vulnerability on an issue he could neither mess about nor come up with any real solutions for.

Beginning in Charleston, SC, Perry’s decision to run was an all too brief ascendency. His “oops” moments became too commonplace for a seasoned politician. Perry’s greatest gaffe came at the Orlando debate after defending his reasons for signing into law in-state tuition policy for illegal immigrant students. He was never able to recover the ardor of the Conservative base after that, being a hanger-on the last three months.

To Perry’s credit he never wavered on the border theme, saying there’d be sufficient boots on the ground, drones and aerial surveillance to prevent illegal entry.

That scenario will never play out with Barack Obama in the White House, nor has Obama received, and if so, read Perry’s letter.

Note: For readability — the columns are better lined-up vertically at our original article at our site.

I’ll break down these results for you over the next few days.  But here are the detailed results of a recent poll conducted in Overland Park, Kansas, a large suburb of Kansas City, MO.

Part 3 of results

Telephone survey among likely 2012 voters in Overland Park, KS.  Conducted Tuesday, August 9, and Wednesday, August 10, by the State and Local Educational Foundation of Kansas.  Margin of error +/- 5.4%.  Party breakdown:  51% Republican, 29% Unaffiliated, 20% and Democratic.  55% Female, and 45% Male.  50% over the age of 50, and 50% under the age of 50.

For accompanying information for comparison and background purposes, click here.  To view part 1 of our results, click here. To view part 2 of our results, click here.  More information about survey methodology can be found at the bottom of this page.

Question: “In general, how would you describe your political views?”

Ideology (all voters): Count Percent

- Very conservative:                               55      16.2%

- Somewhat conservative:                 107      31.5%

- Moderate:                                           123      36.2%

- Somewhat liberal:                              40      11.8%

- Very liberal:                                          15        4.4%

Total:                                     340       100%

Among Republicans               Count Percent

Very conservative:                        46      26.4%

Somewhat conservative:            69      39.7%

Moderate:                                      51      29.3%

Somewhat liberal:                         8        4.6%

Very liberal:                                     0           0%

Total:                             174       100%

[Note: Sample size=174; Margin of error=7.6%]

Among Unaffiliateds               Count Percent

Very conservative:                         6      6.1%

Somewhat conservative:           27    27.6%

Moderate:                                    44      44.9%

Somewhat liberal:                     16      16.3%

Very liberal:                                    5      5.1%

Total:                               98       100%

[Note: Sample size=98; Margin of error=10.1%]

Over age 50                            Count  Percent

Very conservative:                        30    17.7%

Somewhat conservative:            54    31.8%

Moderate:                                      60    35.3%

Somewhat liberal:                       17    10.0%

Very liberal:                                    9        5.3%

Total:                             170       100%

[Note: Sample size=170; Margin of error=7.7%]

Under age 50                         Count  Percent

Very conservative:                       25     14.7%

Somewhat conservative:           53     31.2%

Moderate:                                     63     37.1%

Somewhat liberal:                       23     6.2%

Very liberal:                                     6     3.5%

Total:                             170       100%

[Note: Sample size=170; Margin of error=7.7%]

Question: “I will now list the names of several public figures and groups, and we would like to know your opinion of them. It’s OK if you have not heard of them.  What is your opinion of…?”

Sam Brownback Count Percent

Very favorable:                              66    19.4%

Somewhat favorable:                 111    32.7%

Somewhat unfavorable:              49     14.4%

Very unfavorable:                          76    22.4%

Heard of, but no opinion:             34    10.0%

Have never heard of:                       4    1.2%

Total:                             340       100%

Among Republicans            Count  Percent

Very favorable:                           56        32.2%

Somewhat favorable:               69        39.7%

Somewhat unfavorable:           20        5.9%

Very unfavorable:                      19        10.9%

Heard of, but no opinion:          9          5.2%

Have never heard of:                 1          0.6%

Total:                            174       100%

[Note: Sample size=174; Margin of error=7.6%]

Over 50                                  Count  Percent

Very favorable:                          33        19.4%

Somewhat favorable:              53        31.2%

Somewhat unfavorable:         18        10.6%

Very unfavorable:                     49        28.8%

Heard of, but no opinion:         16        9.4%

Have never heard of:                 1          0.6%

Total:                             170       100%

[Note: Sample size=170; Margin of error=7.7%]

Under 50                                Count  Percent

Very favorable:                           33        19.4%

Somewhat favorable:               58        34.1%

Somewhat unfavorable:          31        18.2%

Very unfavorable:                      27        15.9%

Heard of, but no opinion:        18        10.6%

Have never heard of:                  3          1.8%

Total:                             170       100%

[Note: Sample size=170; Margin of error=7.7%]

Conservatives                        Count  Percent

Very favorable:                            55       40.0%

Somewhat favorable:                71        43.8%

Somewhat unfavorable:            16        9.9%

Very unfavorable:                        10       6.2%

Heard of, but no opinion:           9          5.6%

Have never heard of:                   1         0.6%

Total:                             162       100%

[Note: Sample size=162; Margin of error=7.9%]

Moderates                              Count  Percent

Very favorable:                            11        8.9%

Somewhat favorable:                34        27.6%

Somewhat unfavorable:            20       16.3%

Very unfavorable:                       35        28.5%

Heard of, but no opinion:         21        17.1%

Have never heard of:                   2          1.6%

Total:                             123       100%

[Note: Sample size=123; Margin of error=9.0%]

Kris Kobach Count  Percent

Read More →

From Unlikely Voter: Mason Dixon polled the Georgia Republican primary for Governor for the Georgia Newspaper Partnership, to see who might face Roy Barnes in November.

With the runoff tomorrow, it’s looking good for Karen Handel as she leads Nathan Deal, despite the problems we’ve seen with primary polling this year.

Read More →

From Unlikely Voter: Mason Dixon polled the Georgia Republican primary for Governor for the Georgia Newspaper Partnership, to see who might face Roy Barnes in November.

With the runoff tomorrow, it’s looking good for Karen Handel as she leads Nathan Deal, despite the problems we’ve seen with primary polling this year.

Read More →

From Unlikely Voter: At-Large House races may get a disproportionate amount of attention and polling, but it is what it is. So Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s polling troubles get the whole country’s attention, while a House incumbent in some other state might barely draw notice.

And the South Dakota At-Large Representative is having serious problems. I just don’t see how she can win this.

Read More →

From Unlikely Voter: At-Large House races may get a disproportionate amount of attention and polling, but it is what it is. So Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s polling troubles get the whole country’s attention, while a House incumbent in some other state might barely draw notice.

And the South Dakota At-Large Representative is having serious problems. I just don’t see how she can win this.

Read More →

From the diaries by Erick.

Georgia Right To Life has taken issue with Karen Handel‘s candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Georgia Governor’s race, but Handel isn’t taking it lying down.  In a release yesterday on their website, GRTL took direct aim at Handel over funding the Fulton County Commission provided to Planned Parenthood.

Mrs. Karen Handel is not pro-life, regardless of her statements to the contrary and despite her “many pro-life endorsements”. During her tenure as Chair of the Fulton County Commission, Planned Parenthood received $1.2 million over three years. [emphasis GRTL]

Yesterday, GRTL Executive Director Melanie Crozier had this to say about Sarah Palin endorsing Handel:

The Handel campaign fired back today with the following statement:

“This is a cruel and revolting lie and shows just how low GRTL leaders are willing to go for a political attack,” Handel said.  “I am deeply offended, and I can only imagine how offensive these callous remarks are to Governor Palin and her family – and to all Georgians.”

Handel, who is pro-life, does not and has never held any belief that could remotely be construed as supporting the act Crozier describes.

“My little sister was born with a rare, life-threatening medical condition – one that few, if any, babies at that time had ever survived.  It took miraculous, experimental neonatal care to save her and years of surgeries to ensure her the best that life can offer,” Handel said.  “My parents knew that she would likely be born with a health issue that she would likely not survive, but they chose life.  In doing so, they gave me a sister whom I love more than I could ever express – a wonderful young woman who has enriched my life beyond measure.  GRTL’s assertions that I would ever support what they claim are outrageous, untrue, and way, way over the line.”

Read More →

From the diaries by Erick.

Georgia Right To Life has taken issue with Karen Handel‘s candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Georgia Governor’s race, but Handel isn’t taking it lying down.  In a release yesterday on their website, GRTL took direct aim at Handel over funding the Fulton County Commission provided to Planned Parenthood.

Mrs. Karen Handel is not pro-life, regardless of her statements to the contrary and despite her “many pro-life endorsements”. During her tenure as Chair of the Fulton County Commission, Planned Parenthood received $1.2 million over three years. [emphasis GRTL]

Yesterday, GRTL Executive Director Melanie Crozier had this to say about Sarah Palin endorsing Handel:

The Handel campaign fired back today with the following statement:

“This is a cruel and revolting lie and shows just how low GRTL leaders are willing to go for a political attack,” Handel said.  “I am deeply offended, and I can only imagine how offensive these callous remarks are to Governor Palin and her family – and to all Georgians.”

Handel, who is pro-life, does not and has never held any belief that could remotely be construed as supporting the act Crozier describes.

“My little sister was born with a rare, life-threatening medical condition – one that few, if any, babies at that time had ever survived.  It took miraculous, experimental neonatal care to save her and years of surgeries to ensure her the best that life can offer,” Handel said.  “My parents knew that she would likely be born with a health issue that she would likely not survive, but they chose life.  In doing so, they gave me a sister whom I love more than I could ever express – a wonderful young woman who has enriched my life beyond measure.  GRTL’s assertions that I would ever support what they claim are outrageous, untrue, and way, way over the line.”

Read More →

As we cross past midnight in Georgia, it becomes primary election day in that state. So let’s look at one more poll of the Republican side of the Governor’s race. There’s almost certainly going to be a primary runoff, but with three credible candidates and two spots, somebody’s going to be left out when the music stops.

According to Mason Dixon the one left out will be Nathan Deal.

Read More →

As we cross past midnight in Georgia, it becomes primary election day in that state. So let’s look at one more poll of the Republican side of the Governor’s race. There’s almost certainly going to be a primary runoff, but with three credible candidates and two spots, somebody’s going to be left out when the music stops.

According to Mason Dixon the one left out will be Nathan Deal.

Read More →