Rick Perry: 'I'm Not The Smoothest Politician' (VIDEO)

During an interview on Fox News on Friday, Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry was asked about criticism of his performance in the most recent primary debate.

"Obviously I’m not the best debater on the stage, that’s pretty obvious," said the Texas governor. "I’m not the smoothest politician. Here is what Americans know about me, is I know what I believe in."

On the heels of the forum, which was held in Orlando, Florida, Perry finished in second place in the Sunshine State's presidential straw poll behind former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain. Many expected the Lone Star Republican to come out on top in the event and Perry spokesman Mark Miner acknowledged afterwards that the governor's debate performance was a factor in the outcome of the contest.

"He's the commander in chief, not the debater in chief," Miner said.

HuffPost's Amanda Terkel reported on reaction to Perry's debate performance during a roundtable discussion on "Fox News Sunday."

"Perry really did throw up all over himself in the debate, at a time when he needed to raise his game. He did worse, it seems to me, than in previous debates. ... Perry is one-half a step away from almost total collapse as a candidate," said Fox News commentator Brit Hume.

Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol wrote an editorial titled "Yikes" on Friday, writing of Thursday's debate, "[N]one of the candidates really seemed up to the moment, either politically or substantively. In the midst of a crisis, we’re getting politics as usual -- and a somewhat subpar version of politics as usual at that."

The alternative, he wrote, is for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) to jump into the race.

Despite vehemently denying he could run for president in the next election cycle, speculation that the New Jersey Republican could jump into the GOP primary race reached a fever pitch this week.

"I think he is a very, very good Governor," said Perry on Friday. "We worked awfully hard to get him elected in ’09. I am really proud of all these Republican governors across the country who are making their states more competitive."

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Comments

[Smith1820]

02:52 AM on 10/09/2011

You are neither smooth or a politician sir. You are a wolf in sheep's clothing looking to exploit the nation for your own personal gain. There I said it, can you please go away now?

[Smith1820]

02:53 AM on 10/09/2011

Oh wait, that would make him a politician wouldn't it?

[g9]

08:48 AM on 10/07/2011

Rick Perry: 'I'm Not The Smoothest" .....But you may be one of the Slickest...at least slimmy...

[FactChek]

10:48 AM on 10/04/2011

When Perry is out to get something from you he can be slick ... but as a politician, his history has proven that he is no more than a thug for big money interests. that could care less about the average Joe.

Texas deserves him - America does NOT... so keep him contained in Texas!!!

[Rufus II]

12:39 PM on 10/03/2011

RUFUS II
I've been wondering, what is the significance of the word "Niggerhead" posted at the
entrance to a hunting preserve? The more I think about it, the more sinister it becomes even if it was there to be an inside joke.

[softvoice]

06:09 PM on 10/01/2011

Rick Perry is a very smooth politician who is a very bad debater. He says "I know what I believe" as though that is supposed to reassure anyone and his spokesperson says, "He (Perry) is Commander in Chief, not Debater in Chief." I guess were are supposed to think that being able to talk intelligently about important national and international issues, is not all that important. If you do not understand the issues well enough to speak to them in a debate, then do you really know enough about them to hold the office?

[ONLYGRAYCLOUDS]

06:04 PM on 10/01/2011

I applaud him for admitting he is not the smoothest politician but its not about being smooth its about being honest and having ways of fixing things for the better . It seems to me like people and the republicans are coming down on him and disagreeing with everything he say's maybe because they disagree with everything thats right . People are hating him because his view on illegal students in america and that shows how selfish and ignorant people are and perry said the right word they are heartless and I dont see why he backed out and apologized because its the truth and the truth hurts obviously . He should stand up for what he believes in instead of giving in to every criticism .If I were him I wouldnt have apologized for using the word heartless because thats exactly what it is . Any young person that puts their time and money into going to school should be given a chance to be a member of society and be given other opportunities to open doors for them because they are doing something postitive that can actually contribute to the country .The other candidates and other people who disagree are showing discrimination , its not about being illegal its about people not wanting to give these people a chance to better themselves regardless to the good things they do.

[jimme]

05:19 PM on 10/01/2011

Oh, you're smooth, like snake-oil.

[observantguy]

03:46 PM on 10/01/2011

He is not the sharpest knife in the drawer either.

[ONLYGRAYCLOUDS]

05:49 PM on 10/01/2011

neither was bush

[LeFlaneur]

02:30 PM on 10/01/2011

"Knowing what you believe in" is not as important a quality as being able to explain why you believe it.

[TooManyTequilas]

02:24 PM on 10/01/2011

Understatement of the year!

[Madtgod]

02:19 PM on 10/01/2011

Here is what Americans know about me, is I know what I believe in.

Is that some kind of new gwb speak?

[rotinfx16]

02:07 PM on 10/01/2011

I don't know how smooth you are Rick, but you have certainly gotten the worst advisors. Time to step away from the Mic and let the field narrow. Too many dumb statements in too short a period of time. Too far right, which guarantees you have to move too far left if elected, in order to represent us all. Honestly, I don't think you would know where the center is. You are much too close to Obama for taste. I don't say this with malice, but for the good of the Party.

[observantguy]

03:47 PM on 10/01/2011

He seems to have caught Bachmann-itis.
Suddenly he has to explain everything that pops out of his mouth.

[rotinfx16]

04:12 PM on 10/01/2011

I think he was given horrible advice and he is trying too hard to appear to be one of the common people.

[jamdcts]

01:40 PM on 10/01/2011

Wow..no wonder he could run for Governor in Texas and win in a landslide...could sday the say thing about "Shrub: too...only in Texas. :)

[foerschnerr]

01:36 PM on 10/01/2011

The smoothest thing about Perry is his brain.

[Madtgod]

02:20 PM on 10/01/2011

Brain? What brain? I'd go with his hair.

[observantguy]

03:54 PM on 10/01/2011

Its the top of his head - right where his campaign donors rest their beer.

[drwtsn]

01:34 PM on 10/01/2011

No, Perry, yopu're not the smoothest politician, or the sharpest tack in the box, but when it comes to the smarmiest pretend-bagger, you've got all the others beat by a mile.