FORT WORTH -- In about an hour Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry swept through town, energizing local Republicans and adding about $600,000 to his presidential campaign war chest.
Perry, who emerged as the front-runner for the GOP nomination shortly after jumping into the race, attended a $2,500-per-person fundraiser at noon at the City Club.Several who attended said that the governor sounded more presidential than ever and that he gave the crowd hope."This was one of the best talks I've ever heard him make, and I've heard him make a lot of them," said state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. "He's confident he's going to be the next president of the United States."Perry arrived in town around noon Tuesday, entering the D.R. Horton Tower, which houses the City Club, from the parking garage. Surrounded by staffers and security, he wore ear buds and avoided eye contact with those in the area. His staff blocked media access to the governor, saying he wasn't answering questions.But Perry did stop to shake hands with and sign autographs for two men -- Mike Mentgen of Rowlett and Shawn Carr of Dallas -- who carried items for Perry to sign, including a Texas license plate, a copy of his book Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America From Washington, and the February 2010 issue of Texas Monthly, which featured Perry and the headline "Perry for President?!?" "How many chances do you get to meet a potential president?" Mentgen said.Perry's local friendsA steady stream of Republicans -- philanthropists, local business people and elected officials -- filed into the City Club on Tuesday, women dressed to the nines and men decked out in business suits."This is the 'Who's Who of Fort Worth,'" one woman said with a chuckle as she walked into the building.About 200 people attended the fundraiser, including U.S. Reps. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, and Bill Flores, R-Waco, former Army Secretary Pete Geren, state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, local attorney Dee Kelly Sr. and District Attorney Joe Shannon. Hosts included wealthy philanthropists Lee and Ramona Bass and John and Anne Marion."[Perry] has a lot of friends in Fort Worth," Kelly said.Roger Williams, a co-host, said he was impressed with Perry."The governor has a great vision for our country," said Williams, former Texas secretary of state and now a candidate for the newly drawn U.S. House District 33. "It's about empowering individuals. ... Gov. Perry will make a great president of the United States."The event raised about $600,000 for Perry, several of those who attended said.Perry needs hundreds of millions of dollars to run in the GOP primary and, if chosen as the nominee, in the general election next year against President Barack Obama, who is believed to be targeting a $1 billion goal.Perry is turning to Texans this week after wrapping up out-of-state fundraisers last week. He was in Fort Worth and Dallas on Tuesday, and he plans to attend fundraisers this week in Houston, Midland and San Antonio.Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610Aman Batheja, 817-390-7695Dealing with the 'dumb' question
Between events in Fort Worth and Dallas on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry called in to conservative pundit Sean Hannity's radio show, and the host brought up a story published by the online publication Politico this week with the headline "Is Rick Perry Dumb?"
"What's dumb is to oversee an economy that has lost that many millions of jobs ... to downgrade the credit of this country ... to put fiscal policies in place that were a disaster back in the '30s and try them again in the 2000s," Perry said.
Hannity quickly warned that the thought listeners will take away from the interview could be: "Perry calls Obama policies 'dumb.'"
"Are you ready for that headline?" Hannity asked.
"America is ready for leadership," Perry said.
Perry continued on the intellect theme, explaining why he thinks it's a problem that many of Obama's advisers come from academia.
"They have gone to some great schools and they are intellectually smart, but he does not have wise people around him. ... He has listened to smart people but nobody who has real wisdom," Perry said.
-- Aman Batheja
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