When it rains, it pours, and with Rick Perry slipping into third place in the latest Gallup Poll, the deluge of pain comes pouring down. Here’s a press release that’s got to have Team Perry on suicide watch:
SANTORUM EXPANDS IOWA CAMPAIGN STAFF
Experienced operatives join Santorum campaign
Verona, PA – Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) announced the additions of Sheila Murphy and Kip Murphy to his Iowa campaign team to coordinate campaign operations in Southwest Iowa and to advise in the area of statewide field operations.
Prior to the Iowa Straw Poll, Kip Murphy worked as part of the “Americans for Rick Perry” organization helping to lay the groundwork for an entrance into the presidential race. However, since that time, both the Murphys have selected Rick Santorum as their choice for the GOP nomination, citing both Santorum’s substantive policy stands and his campaign style and strategies.
Sheila Murphy said, “I am excited to join the team of the hardest working candidate in the GOP field. Senator Santorum’s relentless campaign energy has set him apart. Senator Rick Santorum understands that Iowa Republicans are looking for a candidate who is conservative in both word and deed and he is working tirelessly to bring this message to all corners of Iowa. I am confident that Iowa voters will see as I do that Rick Santorum is the complete conservative- strong on every issue- solid in every way. This will resonate with Iowa voters and drive the campaign to victory at the caucuses.”
Kip Murphy said, “Senator Santorum has not taken any Iowa votes for granted. He has not just campaigned in the major media markets, but has visited the rural Iowa counties and talked to all Iowa voters. Senator Santorum appreciates the important role Iowa plays in the nominating process and has taken his conservative message straight to Iowa voters. I am looking forward to helping Senator Santorum transform this hard work into victory at the Iowa caucuses.”
Senator Santorum said, “Sheila and Kip are among the hardest working activists in western Iowa. They have proven to be super-organizers and well respected conservatives in a critical part of the First-in-the-Nation caucus state. I am looking forward to working with both Sheila and Kip as we move to victory in the Iowa caucuses.”
The brother and sister consulting team are originally from Nebraska where Kip Murphy served as Statewide Field Director for the Nebraska Republican Party and as Field Director for the Lee Terry for Congress Campaign. Sheila Murphy served as Statewide Field Director for Victory 2000 for the Nebraska Republican Party.
Sheila Murphy is currently the Republican Chairwoman of Harrison County. She previously served as campaign manager for Brenna Findley’s 2010 campaign for Iowa Attorney General and as political director for Rod Robert’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
Kip Murphy previously served as Victory director for the southwest Iowa field office of the Republican Party of Iowa, as well as field director for the Rod Robert’s gubernatorial campaign and numerous campaigns throughout Iowa and the Midwest.
These are both experienced Iowa operatives, one of whom formerly supported Perry, joining a campaign that raised about $600,000 in the third quarter. That’s what you’d call a “hint.”
Remember that Perry began his campaign with a gigantic diss to the Iowa GOP, skipping the Ames Straw Poll to make his announcement with his buddies in South Carolina. (According to the official transcript, Perry’s Aug. 13 announcement speech began, “Howdy. Thank you, Erick.”) Nobody figured dissing Iowa would really hurt Perry much, back when he was on top of the polls — leading Mitt Romney by as many as 19 points in early September — but now?
Perry’s in single digits in New Hampshire, and Santorum’s held more events in Iowa than any other candidate in the field, including Bachmann (who practically moved to Iowa this summer). What happens if former front-runner Perry finishes third, fourth or even fifth in Iowa, then goes to New Hampshire — with an aura of defeat already dogging his every step — and gets beaten silly again?
Perry’s got $17 million in the bank, so it’s probably way too soon to make some kind of “no path to victory” statement, but . . . Dude.
Anyway, it’s good news for Santorum to have Sheila Murphy, a county party chairwoman, calling him “the hardest working candidate in the GOP field.” Last Tuesday, I said Santorum was overdue for his “flavor of the week” moment. He just made a $30,000 radio ad buy in Iowa, and there’s a debate tonight in Hanover, N.H., so we’ll see if he can make something happen.
