Perry: Debate gaffe won't break my campaign

Rick Perry brushed off a gaffe from Wednesday's debate, saying one mistake may in fact humanize him and certainly will not tank his campaign the way some strategists are predicting.

On Wednesday night in Michigan, Perry said he would cut three agencies from the federal government but could only name two of them.

"Commerce, Education and the - what's the third one there? Let's see," Perry said before his rivals volunteered the Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates pollution and is very unpopular with conservatives.

Later in the debate, Perry said he meant to say the Energy Department was the third agency he would eliminate. But it was too late. The awkard pause was out there for all to see.

Asked about the slip-up, Perry acknowledged on CBS' "The Early Show" that he made a mistake.

"I stepped in it is what my wife would have said," Perry said.

"All of us make mistakes. I'm a human being. And the issue here is that I had a lapse of memory. So many federal agencies were coming to mind that I forgot the one I was trying to think of which is the Energy Department," Perry said.

Perry has made a series of gaffes in the debates since his late-summer entry into the race, and his lack of experience shows, especially in comparison to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

"I admit I may not be the best debater, the smoothest politician on the stage," Perry said, calling himself "an individual of substance when it comes to creating an environment where jobs can be, in fact, the focus of the entrepreneur class out there that are creating those jobs that Americans really need now."

Asked if he understood that political observers were calling it a death knell for his campaign, Perry sought to downplay his gaffe while still admitting it was a mistake.

"Any time you're standing in front of however many million people we were and you have a loss of train of thought, sure. It impacts you. But the fact is one error is not going to make or break a campaign," he said.

Perry pledged to appear at a CBS News/National Journal debate on foreign policy Saturday in South Carolina, but he would not commit to any further debates.

"I will be in South Carolina Saturday night. I don't know what my schedule is past that," Perry said. His aides have signaled the Texas governor may not participate in all the upcoming presidential debates.

More debate coverage:

Herman Cain's nickname for Pelosi: "Princess Nancy"

Cain blasts "character assassination" against him

Charged with inconsistency, Romney points to his marriage

Rick Perry fails to remember what agency he'd get rid of in GOP debate

Republicans shift from scandal to Europe crisis

[noloyalisti]

The Republicon Party has always been against equal rights. They voted against the 1965 Civil Rights Act. Many of them have voted for a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage. They are against women's right to choose. They are for defunding birth control aid overseas and want to cut government services that support children's health (they were all against Obamacare), want to cut aid to families. And on and on and on.

Republicons hate women, children, poor, workers and the middle class. They hate anyone that they see as weaker than them. Must be a separate path of brain devolution.

[moronpolitics]

There are only two things that Americans won't forgive. Brain Freeze is not one of them. Quiting and running away is. Americans despise a coward and a quitter. Perry is neither. People didn't used to announce until the year of the election. The idea that anybody's campaign is over a year before the vote is insane. If he quits now that means that if Obama gets another term Perry cannot run in 2016 either. NO NO NO don't you dare go there Rick.

[noloyalisti]

It must be really hard to be a Republicon and claim you love America while your votes show you hate almost everyone here. You blatantly come out for the Top 1% against the 99% and pass laws that show you hate women, children, minorities, workers and the poor. And then somehow claim you are religious and follow the liberal Jesus. You can't make up this kind of insanity.

[moronpolitics]

I votedd Republican in every election since 1968. I was a Fry Cook at IHOP and Denny's, loaded trucks for minimum wage, sold chemicals over the phone for commision only never making more than 25K and worked 6 years as a teacher in a public school. If that makes me a heartless member of the one percent I don't know how you figure it. The Republicans aren't ON the right they ARE right. Dum*ss

[noloyalisti]

All you need to know about Texas and the downfall of America is embodied in this imbecile Perry. I wouldn't hire this corporate loving sellout knucklehead to sweep my garage.

[bolafson]

Hopefully after the first few primaries the Republican debates will be narrowed down and not be producing highlight reels for late night comedy.
Until then it is entertaining.

[TeaParty4RonPaul]

Perry will have a harder time explaining why he keeps preaching about deregulating and small government when he just signed new regulations into law in Texas that include unannounced warrantless invasion of citizen's private homes.

[TxCharliex]

Talk about REAL buffons, have you ever heard Obama's goofball gaffes when he's off the teleprompter?

YouTube is full of them - take a browse sometimes!

[smirk5]

I remember when he showed up to talk to the Republicans about health care. Obama showed up without notes and without a teleprompter. He schooled the Republicans for over an hour. Even they complained that they had felt lectured to.

[JackGriffin411]

smirk5: Don't you mean health insurance? Not health care

[smirk5]

Perry was the number one guy for the GOP just a few months ago. They didn't care that he was a joke. They loved Bachmann before that. Then, there was Trump. Right now, it's Cain. The Forrest Gump Party can't be satisfied for long.

[Skootch]

Yes. The campaign for Rick Perry's presidency is over.

But, per his custom, Governor Perry will be the last one to figure it out.

[longtree-2009]

no wonder he doesn't want to debate. think the man was a c student and earned a degree in animal science. give the man a break. as potus he might forget what to do in a national emergency but just give him time, he'll figure it out sooner or later. if not, he can always say "oops."