CNN to Rick Perry: Are You 'Overconfident' for Campaigning In Virginia?
CNN's Jim Acosta asked Rick Perry Wednesday if he was "a tad overconfident" for stumping in a battleground state like Virginia so early in the campaign season. Perry, a leading Republican presidential candidate, delivered a speech at Liberty University earlier in the day.
"It seems as if you're already looking past the primaries and into the general election," CNN's political correspondent posed to the candidate. "Aren't you being a tad overconfident?" he obnoxiously added.
[Video below the break. For audio, click here.]
Acosta, ironically, was easier on terrorist suspect Faisal Shahzad – the suspect in the failed Times Square bombing plot – than he was on Perry. Back in May of 2010, during coverage following the failed plot, he mused that Shahzad's family house going into foreclosure the year before brought "pressure" and "heartache" for the family. Acosta added that it "must have been extremely difficult for him [Shahzad]."
During Thursday's segment, the CNN correspondent pointed out that the Liberty University appearance meant that Perry was "starting to act like a front-runner." Then after describing Perry thus, he questioned his motives campaigning in a battleground state – a strange question, since that is what leading candidates do.
After Perry responded to his question, Acosta remarked that "what's interesting about that comment, Kyra, is we're asking him shouldn't you be paying more attention to your other rivals in the GOP field? And he takes that question and pivots back to the President, which is what front-runners do."
A transcript of the segment, which aired on September 15 at 10:58 a.m. EDT, is as follows:
KYRA PHILLIPS: Well it looks like our Jim Acosta had a chance to talk with GOP frontrunner Rick Perry. I'm sure that was quite interesting, Jim?
JIM ACOSTA: Yeah, you know it's a sign, Kyra, that he is starting to act like a front-runner, that he's not so worried about something blowing up in his face and hurting him in the polls. He went to Virginia yesterday, which is not a terribly important primary state, but it is a battleground state in the general election. And after he gave a speech to an audience of Virginia Republicans, he took some questions.
And so we thought we'd ask him are you feeling a little overconfident these days when you're campaigning in places like Virginia? And here's what he had to say.
(Video Clip)
ACOSTA: (on-camera) It seems as if you're already looking past the primaries and into the general election. Aren't you being a tad overconfident?
RICK PERRY, Republican presidential candidate: I understand who the opposition is in this election cycle, and there are seven other individuals on that stage who are quite capable. But the fact of the matter is, my focus – and I think, as our focus all should be – is on the problem that's facing America today. And that is an administration that is trying to spend our way to prosperity.
(End Video Clip)
ACOSTA: And, you know what's interesting about that comment, Kyra, is we're asking him shouldn't you be paying more attention to your other rivals in the GOP field? And he takes that question and pivots back to the President, which is what front-runners do. And I should mention, he is in Iowa today, so he is keeping an eye on his right flank.
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Comments
Hey Rick-correct response
Submitted by KornKing on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 1:15pm.
"isn't that question a tad on the stupid side"?
Whatever the MSM says, do the opposite
Submitted by richb313 on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 1:36pm.
Why even answer such a stupid question? Whatever the MSM says, do the opposite.
ACOSTA: And, you know what's
Submitted by Ruths husband Ben on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 2:27pm.
ACOSTA: And, you know what's interesting about that comment, Kyra, is we're asking him shouldn't you be attacking your other rivals in the GOP field?
There, isn't that what you really wanted to ask, hypocrit?
A Tad Overconfident vrs. Quite Nervous
Submitted by CobraMan on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 2:36pm.
Humm. Who looks like a better candidate: Perry, who may be a "tad overconfident" about being the GOP candidate, or Obama, who is so nervous about his reelection bid that his campaign staff felt it was necessary to start a snitch website in which to identify, and track, his opposition, in order to "counter" the "lies and distortions" that others are making about him?
Personally, I'll take someone who's "overconfident" over someone who's so nervous about their own chances that they can't even allow criticisms about themselves to be unchallenged. no matter where, or by whom, those criticisms are made.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Perry had that, I am
Submitted by ForeverOnTheRight on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 2:32pm.
Perry had that, I am surprised your asking such a stupid question look on his face. A liberal comedian may joke that he just realized he was in the wrong state. But seriously, I think that he is doing the right thing, making himself known early. Who knows he could be the nominee and if he is known and liked in a battle ground state all the better in the general election. BTW, is there anyone that will oppose The One in the Democrat side? Or will he run unopposed?
Sarah P.
Submitted by MacWell on Fri, 09/16/2011 - 5:41am.
I'm still hoping that Sarah Palen enters the race. She, imho, is the only candidate that is willing to take on America's biggest problem, the corruption in our government. We the people will continue to do business as usual within our congress, the spending on special interests, unless, someone who has the nerve to tackle this Goliath is elected. We the people MUST put an end to the lobby as we know it. We MUST also retire all career politicians, they are so entrenched in the system, as is, that it'll be impossible to fix America until we clean house.
Classic evidence of idiotic 'political analysis'
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 09/16/2011 - 10:57am.
JIM ACOSTA: " . . . (Perry) went to Virginia yesterday, which is not a terribly important primary state, but it is a battleground state in the general election."
Those two sentences are contradictory statements.
If Virginia is in fact a 'battleground state' in the general election (it went for Obama in 2008 after decades of GOP support, but went GOP for gov/lt gov/AG in 2009 ), then it is inherently an 'important primary state' because the GOP nominee will almost certainly make all the difference in the outcome.