Rick Perry's 'Day of Prayer': A 2012 liability?

The potential presidential candidate risks alienating independent voters with his day of Christian atonement in Houston's NFL stadium on Saturday

Gov. Rick Perry's (R-Texas)
(Image credit: REUTERS/Sean Gardner)

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is undertaking a big political gamble: Namely, "The Response," a mega prayer rally he's been planning for weeks, at which Christians will fast and pray about America's moral decline. On the plus side, the event — unfolding this Saturday at a 71,500-seat Houston arena — could help Perry win over evangelical GOP voters if he seeks his party's presidential nomination. On the down side, the so-called "Day of Prayer" has only sold 8,000 tickets and several organizers hold views on religious freedom and gay rights that might turn off independent voters. Will Perry's mixing of religion and politics hurt his presidential prospects?

Yes. This prayerfest will frighten mainstream voters: The rally's point is to acknowledge that America is problem-ridden because it hasn't honored God enough, says Henry Blodget at Business Insider. In Perry's world, we need to "pray and fast" so God "will forgive us and help us fix the country." That might go over with the Republican Party's evangelical voters in key early primary states like Iowa and South Carolina, but it will "scare the bejeezus out of many ordinary Americans," including the independents Perry would need to actually topple Obama.

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