Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign team in South Carolina is no longer being paid by his presidential campaign, according to a recent report by National Journal.
Perry, whose performance in this past week’s “happy hour” debate failed to excite prospective voters, raised only $1.1 million between April and June this year and seems to be feeling the effects of faltering contributions. As a source close to the Perry campaign told CBS News, “Jeff Miller, Perry’s national campaign manager, told campaign staff on Friday that the only expenses moving forward would be for travel.”
Many Perry supporters remain hopeful, however. Jeff Miller states: “As the campaign moves along, tough decisions have to be made in respect to both monetary- and time-related resources. Gov. Perry remains committed to competing in the early states and will continue to have a strong presence in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The governor is looking forward to his trips to South Carolina this Thursday and Iowa next week.” As Katon Dawson, Perry’s South Carolina sate director, told National Journal, “Pay is only one reason people do this. We’ll be able to live off the land for a while.”
While this ideal may seem romantic, and although Rick Santorum was able to secure the Iowa caucus last election despite lackluster funding, “Miller has given staffers the green light to look for jobs elsewhere.”
Nick Leaver works for American Principles in Action.
