Rick Perry's Day of Prayer: Masterstroke or mistake?

Texas Gov. Rick Perry put his presidential prospects on the line Saturday, when he led a massive, controversial Houston prayer rally — dubbed The Response — to ask God's forgiveness for "fear in the marketplace" and "anger in the halls of government." Perry said nothing to the 30,000 Christians in attendance about a possible run for the GOP nomination, but the scope and focus of the rally clearly suggests presidential ambitions. Did the prayer day boost Perry's political fortunes?

Yes. This risky bet paid off: Perry took a "major political gamble" by making his national debut with a religious rally, says Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post. Had the crowd been thin, or the tone turned too political, this could have been a disaster. But Perry proved he can draw a crowd and displayed a "plain-spoken speaking style" that "should work well for him on the stump in Iowa and South Carolina." Saturday's rally ensures he'll be a "top-tier" candidate if he runs.

"Rick Perry's positive 'Response'"

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

No. Praying with bigoted preachers was a tactical error: Perry's "big Jesuspalooza" can only hurt his presidential prospects, says Teddy Partridge at Firedoglake. Moderates and independents will be turned off by the sight of a presidential hopeful sharing the stage with far-right, anti-gay pastors. "Rick Perry may run for president, but he can't run from his association with these hate preachers and hatemonger groups who sponsored his big event."

"Brave GetEQUAL Texans respond to Rick Perry's 'The Response'"

But Perry galvanized the voters he needs the most: As a would-be candidate for the GOP nomination, Perry took an expedient step, say Megan Ryan and Naheeda Sayeeduddin at the Houston Chronicle. This "early foray into the national spotlight" — conceived and initiated by Perry — marked "one of the most explicit appeals to conservative Christians" that any GOP candidate has made so far. It firms up Perry's bona fides with the evangelicals who make up more than half of GOP primary voters.

"Rick Perry prayer event establishes his Christian conservative bona fides"