PHOENIX

In GOP Debate, Perry Wins The Tea Party, Romney The Traditional GOP

September 7, 2011 by The Political E...

Romney knows Perry's wild talk about Social Security being a lie and a Ponzi scheme rattles Republican retirees from Miami to Phoenix, but right now, Perry is campaigning for conservative, Tea Party votes in the Deep South and Bible Belt, where Romney's Mormonism is predicted to hurt him.

So I figure for tonight, Perry is in better shape with the activist base of the conservative movement, and in some early primary states - - but that is not a 50-state strategy for victory.

Creepiest moment in the debate: The ovation for Perry's ranking as number-one enforcer of the death penalty.