Rick Perry stops in Aiken to campaign

Staff photo by Rob Novit.

Shortly after arriving in downtown Aiken Wednesday, Texas Gov. and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry stepped into the Gun Rack store for a CNN interview, then returned to talk with supporters and others trying to make up their minds.

Diane Barnes, however, is definitely a fan of Perry after moving to Aiken from Texas two years ago.

"He has been governor for 11 years," Barnes said. "As the largest state, he's got a huge responsibility and has created jobs, balanced the budget and kept taxes low. He's the only candidate who hasn't been in Washington and is a conservative, God-fearing Christian man."

That turned out to be Perry's message, too. He didn't mention any Republican opponents by name during a speech at the Aiken Municipal Center, but his targets were clear.

"Are we really going to change Washington or change from a Democratic insider to a Republican insider?" Perry said. "With all due respect, my opponents are either Washington or Wall Street insiders. It will take an insider who is not corrupted by that."

Perry's upbeat approach didn't reflect that, just a week ago, he was thinking about going back to Texas to reassess the campaign after a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses.

He skipped the New Hampshire primary, and is banking on far more support in South Carolina.

"I'm evaluating Rick Perry and here to listen," said Ken Koerner of North Augusta. "I'm looking for a conservative to lead the country. (Mitt) Romney to me is a no-go, too establishment, too Bush-lite. Perry absolutely is a good conservative. I have family in Texas with insight on his record. His performance there is everything he has said, plus."

In America in 2012, people are afraid and have lost confidence in Washington and Wall Street. The federal government is seemingly all-powerful, and its overreach in usurping state authority must be curtailed, he said. Washington should only do the things it does well, like the military, he said.

As president, Perry said he would secure the borders and eliminate the National Labor Relations Board and the U.S. Department of Education. He would push for a flat tax and eliminate all congressional earmarks.

He also criticized President Barak Obama for not supporting the oil pipeline from Canada.

"He is getting pressure from his left-wing, environmental friends," Perry said. "This is one of the safest pipelines ever, built and it's not an environmental issue. Obama is willing to put the nation at risk. We need to have a president who understands the importance of being independent of foreign sources of energy."

Perry would also take steps to rid the nation of "Obamacare." Even if the Senate doesn't get 60 votes to have a better chance of repealing the legislation, Perry said he could appoint a Health and Human Services secretary to slow health care reform through bureaucratic efforts.

Follow Aiken Standard on facebook and twitter for breaking news, updates, weather, traffic, and more.

Share with us! Email your story to mystory@aikenstandard.com, or send photos and videos to editorial@aikenstandard.com.