Gov Rick Perry (R-TX) Adviser: Secessionism Criticism Is Baseless

(By Erin McPike, Real Clear Politics) - Critics of Rick Perry already have begun to drop into the political conversation two hurdles facing him should he launch a presidential bid this summer, but they don't pass muster with the Texas governor's chief political adviser, David Carney.

Ask a political strategist inside the Beltway to assess Perry's prospects for landing the GOP nomination -- or the presidency -- and a common response is: "He called for Texas to secede from the union, so he'll never be president," even though that's not quite true. The second thing you hear is: "I'm not sure America is ready for another Texas governor after George W. Bush."

Neither assertion may be paramount in the minds of voters, but whisper campaigns that begin in Washington have a way of casting a pall on candidacies before they get off the starting blocks. Just ask Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, whose unique marital history colored the zeitgeist of Washington this spring and ultimately stood between him and a run for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.