Rick Perry's Top Career Donor Has Not Given To His Presidential Campaign, Report Shows

WASHINGTON -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry's recently filed campaign finance report for his presidential bid shows that the governor has raised $17.2 million and reported more than 10,000 donors from Aug. 13 to Sept. 30. One thing, however, was missing: the name of Perry's biggest career campaign donor.

Texas homebuilder Bob Perry -- no relation -- has been included in nearly every list of important people behind Rick Perry, but as of Sept. 30, he had not donated to the governor's presidential campaign, according to the report.

Bob Perry and his wife, Doylene, have donated $2.5 million to Rick Perry's campaigns in the past, more than any other single donor to the governor's campaigns, according to campaign finance filings in Texas.

While the report shows that neither Bob Perry nor his wife have donated to Rick Perry's presidential bid, Bob Perry has given money to other candidates. The biggest recipient of his largesse happens to be Mitt Romney, the emerging nemesis of the Texas governor in the GOP primary. Bob Perry and his wife gave a combined $5,000 to Romney's campaign earlier this year, and another $500,000 to the super PAC Restore Our Future that is supporting Romney's presidential bid, according to publicly filed disclosure reports. In 2008, the couple supported Romney's bid for the Republican nomination with a combined $5,000 donation, the reports show.

Bob Perry and his wife have also contributed to the campaign of former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. They gave a combined $10,000 to his presidential campaign and another $60,000 to his political action committee, according to disclosure reports. Pawlenty has since dropped out of the presidential race.

Craig McDonald, the executive director of Texans for Public Justice, a watchdog group that has tracked Bob Perry's contributions, was skeptical that Bob Perry's absence from Rick Perry's campaign finance report means anything significant. "I don't think it signals that Bob Perry will not support Rick Perry," McDonald said. "Bob Perry has a history of giving to both sides in a campaign."

As McDonald noted, Bob Perry could have given to Make Us Great Again, the super PAC run by Rick Perry's former chief of staff, a contribution that would not be disclosed until Jan. 31.

"I don't think they needed Bob Perry's 2,500 bucks," McDonald said. "Usually when they deal with Bob Perry, they deal in seven figures."

Bob Perry has given upwards of $40 million to Republican candidates, parties and independent committees since 2000. He is also the top donor to the Karl Rove-linked super PAC American Crossroads.

A request for comment from Bob Perry's spokesman was not returned, nor were requests for comment from the campaigns of Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.

Comments

[Reba Latimer]

03:35 PM on 10/25/2011

I am sure the campaign donor is someone who wants some kind of favor.Perry is no friend of farmers,Rick Perry paints a pretty when he was raised on a farm,it's a good thing his farm was not
in the path of Perry-led Trans Texas corridor Private toll road.Texans had to fight to keep there farms from being seized by the Perry-led government,when Perry says he's for small government,you
better grab your deed and run.Don't vote for Perry unless you want more Gov.while the poor,disable,and elerdry lack
food,housing and medical care.

[Reba Latimer]

11:21 AM on 10/25/2011

It was probable a drug company who made the donation,We Texans better grab our kids and run for
the hills ! it should be mandatory that all elected officials take a tour to find out that they are supposed to represent the people,not corporations,our country was founded on principles,not greed
and each of us has a right to life,liberty and the persuit of happiness.not just Rick Perry !

[ron071]

04:51 PM on 10/23/2011

The record will show that this is a NON-STORY as this "past " donor " has a history of donating to both sides in many a contest.  He will jump  $$$$$  on board when he feels the  nominee choice is clear.  That is to ensure the most bang for his BUCKS.

[Joe Shmozler]

12:05 PM on 10/23/2011

Hey Rick. My advice to you is sneak into Mexico. They will give you money to go to college. Study common sense when you get there.

[Bobcaaat]

10:27 AM on 10/23/2011

There needs to be a strict limit on contributions. I say $1000 per person per year, and overturn citizens united. Big money is destroying our country.

[Lahonda]

04:01 AM on 10/23/2011

Sounds like a nice foolow

[capt hastings]

01:34 AM on 10/23/2011

See the Barack and Michelle Obama 2012 ad at the top of the page?
The Pres. has the same expression and hand wave as Perry does in the pic for this article, just as a mirror image. Scary.

[hapiday]

12:42 AM on 10/23/2011

That picture of Perry certainly isn't very becoming. It looks like he has George Washington's wooden teeth.

[ScribL]

12:36 AM on 10/23/2011

What a waste of money, $40 mil? Just think all of the charities that he could have helped instead, what a shame.

[acorus]

10:30 PM on 10/22/2011

what poli-tricks looks like these daze, which is fundamentally plutocratic in nature, wherein these huge donors (bob perry, art pope, the koch bros, etc) wield exponential power directly proportional to their wealth, and highly deleterious to the longevity of this democracy. great article in last weeks new yorker, delineating the art pope phenomena in north carolina. unless campaign finance reform is real, this is our collective future

[Sock Monkey]

09:42 PM on 10/22/2011

Merck and Bank of America will pick up the slack...

[jokamachi]

07:23 PM on 10/22/2011

The absence of a donation may speak to a lack of faith in Perry as a candidate, but it also points to the proverbial man behind the curtain. We're over a year away from the election. A LOT can happen... and will, in that period of time. We may yet see another candidate enter the race. Fatigue from the Romney/Perry debates is already prompting backroom begging from the GOP to encourage other candidates to run. May not happen, but the GOP money machine doesn't like to drop their cash on someone who will fizzle out in the next few weeks. If Perry makes a strong showing at future debates, his financial situation could quickly reverse.

[Gestas]

05:28 PM on 10/22/2011

Fools and thier money are soon parted....

[ruthtruth]

04:50 PM on 10/22/2011

How's that for a slap in the face there Ricky? Your 15 minutes are up and now it's time to go back to Texas and talk your BS there. I don't think you're going to be very well received.

[Reba Latimer]

04:28 PM on 10/22/2011

Money is Rick Perry's motivation.he is pandering to his monetary bases,I have to laugh at his job
created jobs Government-created jobs do not give any boost to the economy no matter how you try
to spin it.every new government-created job is payed by the taxpayer,no one else. private enterprise is the only viable employer that can create jobs that would stimulate the economy.Perry is plain
mean,he cuts funds for the poor,eldery,while he lives a life of luxary himself,he is such a hycripite I
don't know how he sleeps at night.if Perry is a christian,he must not read the same Bible I do.

[beauregard62]

06:34 PM on 10/22/2011

Just another lying conservative. Nothing new here.

[ron071]

05:02 PM on 10/23/2011

The entire nation now knows what Perriwinkle is all about.  His record is clear for all who would see it, and he is NOT material of which presidents are made.  As a matter of fact, the polls in Texas say that he is finished there as well.  So the rest of the Ricky Perry story is just about what he will do with the cash that some rich far - righty fools gave him.  Sad how desperate some of the extreme right richies  are to recapture the White House.  I NEVER thought I'd give any praise to the GWBush guy, but he looks good when compared to this crooked and ignorant man named Ricky perry.