Sarah Palin Stumps for Rick Perry in Texas

Sarah Palin was in Cypress, Texas, just northwest of Houston, to stump for Governor of Texas Rick Perry, who is facing a primary challenge from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Palin addressed a crowd of about 5,000 to 6,000 people.

Whatever Gov. Rick Perry's popularity in Texas, it was clear that the vast majority of the crowd came to see Sarah Palin at a rally held the same day as the Super Bowl. Rick Perry seemed to understand this when he introduced Sarah Palin. According to the Houston Chronicle:

"He told the crowd 10 years from now they wouldn't remember who won the Super Bowl 'but you'll never forget the time you got see one of America's superstar conservative leaders.'"

Sarah Palin, naturally, touted the similarities of Alaska and Texas as states steeped in the traditions of the frontier. "A lot of us in our states proudly cling to our guns and religion." The statement was a back handed shot at President Obama who, as a candidate, bemoaned to a group of liberal donors about people who "cling to their God and their guns." And Alaskans and Texans tend to like their governments efficient, but small, distant, and unobtrusive.

By supporting Rick Perry for a third term as governor, Sarah Palin is doing the classic exercise of a politician who is contemplating higher office. She is traveling the country, supporting candidates in the midterm elections. By so doing, Palin means to build up a cadre of elected officials who will be beholden to her and will turn around and support her two years from now, should she decide the run for the presidency. State governors can certainly make powerful friends, who can lend their political machines and list of donors to favored candidates in a primary contest.

Of course the strategy might backfire if Kay Bailey Hutchison actually knocks off Rick Perry in the March Texas primary. A Gov. Hutchison would likely support someone else in the Republican Primary in 2012.

The other reason for touring the country stumping for candidates is that Sarah Palin keeps her face and name in front of potential voters. Rick Perry was certainly right; most of the crowd at his rally will remember for a long time the day they saw Sarah Palin in person. That too will serve Sarah Palin in good stead should she run in 2012.

Source: Palin 'won't close the door' to 2012, Joe Holley, Houston Chronicle, February 8th, 2010