Capitol View: August 26, 2011 Archive

Gallup: Tea Party supporters like Perry

Posted at 1:42 PM on August 26, 2011 by Catharine Richert (3 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Michele Bachmann

Here's more news on something we've been hearing all week:

Tea Party supporters like Rick Perry.

A new poll from Gallup shows that the Texas governor has 35 percent support among Republicans who identify themselves members of the Tea Party movement.

The same poll shows Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney tied with 14 percent support among the same group of voters.

It's a trend that's been developing since Perry entered the race on Aug. 13. MPR has more on the subject here.

A look back at a similar poll conducted in July shows that Perry's really shaken up the race. A month ago, before Perry announced his bid, Romney held a slight edge over Bachmann among Tea Party supporters, 29 percent to 23 percent.

What's also interesting about this poll is how Perry fares with voters when it comes to specific issues. He has 25 percent support among Republicans who say business and the economy are their most important issues. Bachmann comes in a distant fourth after Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul with 8 percent support.

Perry also eclipses her among voters who say social or moral values are their priority with 38 percent support; Bachmann has 10 percent support.

Read more about Gallup's nationwide poll here.

Kline on Prez race: "I just want to see how the field develops"

Posted at 4:15 PM on August 26, 2011 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2012, Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, U.S. House

GOP Rep. John Kline says he's staying out of the 2012 race for president now that Republican Tim Pawlenty has dropped out of the race. Kline was an initial backer of Pawlenty's campaign. He worked to secure support for Pawlenty among his colleagues in the U.S. House and hosted fundraisers for Pawlenty in Washington D.C.

Kline, who represents Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District, said he was surprised by Pawlenty's poor showing in the Iowa Straw poll but said Pawlenty made the right decision to drop out of the race. Kline says he's not prepared to back another candidate.

"I just want to see how the field develops," Kline told MPR News. "I had a lot vested in my friend and constituent and former governor. I'm not at all eager to just jump in someplace else."

Kline said he wasn't prepared to back GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign. Bachmann represents Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District which borders part of Kline's district.

Kline called Bachmann "a friend" who "has certainly been a powerful force in the presidential race" but Kline suggested he believes the experience of a governor or a major military commander is best suited for a presidential candidate.

"I think that's the background you need," Kline said.

(H/T Mark Zdechlik)