Gov. Rick Perry is ruffling quite a few feathers with his aggressive push to drive job growth in Texas, as critics from other states characterize his competitive strategy as undiplomatic and downright rude.
His strategy: A series of ads that touts the Lone Star state’s pro-business atmosphere while at the same time trash talks other states.
For example, Politico reported: One ad states, “I hear building a business in California is next to impossible.” And another dismisses Illinois as “an environment that, intentionally or not, is designed for you to fail.”
Democrats are decrying the ads as clownish, and critics are characterizing his jobs strategy as little more than “poaching,” Politico reported. But political strategists say Mr. Perry is on to something.
“At the end of the day, no matter how any of the [states] respond, people are left with two distinct messages: That guy down in Texas has got big brass balls, and he’s creating a lot of jobs,” Mark McKinnon, a political strategist, told Politico. “It’s brilliant marketing and very smart politics. Of course, it breaks all the rules of interstate diplomacy and protocol.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.