Obama campaign: Perry's record a 'carbon copy' of DC Republicans

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's (R) record is a "carbon copy" of Washington Republicans, President Obama's reelection campaign said of the newest candidate for the GOP presidential nomination.

The Obama campaign sought to lump Perry together with the Tea Party, and charged that his economic record as governor, about which he often brags, is not being what it seems.

“Governor Perry’s economic policies are a carbon copy of the economic policies of Washington Republicans," said Ben LaBolt, the Obama campaign's press secretary. 

LaBolt pointed to Perry's endorsement of the "Cut, Cap and Balance" approach to addressing the debt-ceiling that many of the other presidential candidates had backed. That plan passed the House, but failed to make its way through the Senate. 

"That’s the same approach he took in Texas, where middle class families know his economic record is no miracle – it’s a tall tale," LaBolt said. "Governor Perry allowed special interests to write their own rules, hired corporate lobbyists to oversee corporations, and cut funding for programs that would create opportunity for middle class families."

Perry's made the relative success of Texas during his time as governor the biggest feather in his cap as part of his presidential campaign. He talked up the state's economic performance in his campaign launch Saturday afternoon in Charleston, S.C. 

"You cannot win the future by selling America off to foreign creditors. We cannot afford four more years of this rudderless leadership," Perry said, making a veiled reference to the Obama White House slogan. "It is time to get America working again."

But Democrats circulated research Saturday on Perry's record on jobs, looking to spin it their way by calling it his "failed economic record," and one that didn't do enough to benefit the middle class. 

"In a Republican field that has already pledged allegiance to the Tea Party and failed to present any plan that will benefit the middle class or create the jobs America needs to win the future, Governor Perry offers more of the same," LaBolt said.

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