A Perry rebound effort

Dave Montgomery:

Bounding into the lead within days after announcing his bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, Texas Gov. Rick Perry seemed like he was on a history-making path to follow his predecessor, George W. Bush, all the way to the White House. 

In less than three months, Perry has nosedived in the polls and is drawing comparisons with candidates from past races who showed early promise but quickly tanked. Now the question often asked is whether Perry's quest for the presidency is nearing an end or poised for a new beginning and an ultimate rebound. 

"The polls go up and down, but when it comes to jobs, conservative record, policy initiatives and resources, Perry is well-positioned to win," insists Ray Sullivan, Perry's communications director. And, to varying degrees, a number of independent analysts share that assessment, saying it's far too early to dismiss Texas' longest-serving governor as a spent force in the national political arena. 

Perry's strategy for winning — and rebounding from his slide in the polls — rests on a number of factors, including $17 million in fundraising, aggressive campaigning on television and social media, more selective engagement in debates, magnifying his jobs-oriented economic message, and intense personal campaigning to accent Perry's proven skills at working a crowd. 

Another under-the-radar resource is what veteran Republican strategist Mary Matalin describes as "boots on the ground" — crisp campaign organizations in key states to carry out the door knocking, phone calling and other political grunt work needed for victory. 

The campaign is putting much of its energy toward the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, the first voting in the 2012 race, where a strong showing is vital to reignite his campaign. Perry began running ads in the state last week and will be back in Iowa for personal appearances next week. 

The campaign also has bolstered its central team in Austin with seven additional strategists, nearly all of whom have experience in past presidential races going back to the Reagan-Bush campaign in 1980. 

One prominent hire is Joe Allbaugh, a 6-foot-4 Oklahoman who was Bush's presidential campaign manager in 2000 and later became head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Allbaugh, one of three new senior advisers on the Perry team, is a nuts-and-bolts administrator who will be charged with "making the trains run on time," as one Republican close to the campaign described it. 

Matalin, who is not affiliated with any campaign, is among the analysts who believe that Perry remains a strong candidate, largely dismissing his current poor showing in the polls.

"He's a fighter," she says, adding that Perry "course-corrects quickly" and has "all the tools in place" needed for a successful campaign, including money and teams of seasoned political operatives in the early contest states.

...

His campaign looks more disciplined despite last week's distraction on the birther front.  There seems to be a plan in place on energy, jobs and taxes and a good record in Texas that has gotten lost in the debate distractions.