How real is support for Perry?

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has taken the lead in the Republican primary —
that’s the result of five polls conducted since Perry entered the
presidential race 12 days ago. Gallup, Rasmussen Reports, PPP and YouGov
(twice) have found that Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents
favor Perry by an average of 10 points over former Massachusetts Gov.
Mitt Romney.

In some respects, Perry’s lead over Romney comes as no surprise. The Texas governor’s greatest strength may be that he appears to be in sync with the national zeitgeist and the feeling that government has grown bloated and ineffectual.

{mosads}But the question remains whether support for Perry — especially among moderate Republicans — is really as strong as these initial polls indicate. While his conservative policies in Texas are likely playing a role in his popularity — especially among conservative Republicans — one wonders if his support is more a function of public awareness.

The fact is, the sudden “jump” in support for Perry may not be an accurate reflection of voter intent. The dramatic increase in approval for Perry does not necessarily indicate broad favorability for his conservative policies; rather it may be more a function of increased media attention and name recognition.

It’s important to note that earlier this summer Perry was a largely unknown quantity to most voters. Today, however, Gallup shows that two-thirds of Republican voters recognize Perry’s name. With a dramatic increase like that, “support” for Perry must be taken with a grain of salt.

It may certainly be the case that Republicans are rallying around the Texas governor, but the fact is Americans are just beginning to tune in. With three debates scheduled for September, a real discussion over policies has yet to begin. And as that happens — and Perry and Romney each have a chance to present their economic and job proposals — we’ll begin to get a more accurate and telling read on GOP public opinion.

Sabrina L. Schaeffer is managing partner of Evolving Strategies and a senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum.