Rick Perry Tries to Break Out by Attacking Pretty Much Everybody

Lagging in the polls and unable to escape the shadow of Donald Trump, former Texas Governor Rick Perry accused his Republican rivals over the weekend of being converts to conservatism.

Without mentioning names, Perry made an appeal to Tea Party activists at the annual meeting of the group founded by billionaires Charles and David Koch that he is an authentic conservative—with a record in Texas to back it up—while fellow governors in the Republican race have taken unpopular party positions or flip-flopped on issues including abortion and the Common Core education standards.

"My fellow Republicans, we don’t have to settle for 11th hour campaign conversions to conservatism,'' Perry told the 3,600 attendees at Americans for Prosperity's annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday. "I've been with you every step of the way.''

With Perry trying to keep his campaign afloat, the two-day "Defending the American Dream Summit'' showcased the struggle of Republican candidates attempting to stand out from a crowded field dominated by Trump, while also offering a glimpse of the party's challenge to satisfy its core conservative voters and still have broad enough appeal to win a general election.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-08-24/rick-perry-tries-to-break-out-by-attacking-pretty-much-everybody