Perry campaign plans big Iowa TV push

Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry

/ AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams

UPDATED 12:25 p.m. ET

Texas Gov. Rick Perry's campaign plans an aggressive television advertising push ahead of the Jan 3. Iowa caucuses, a massive effort aimed at encouraging voters to give him a second look.

According to a source with knowledge of the plans, the campaign has already spent more than $1.2 million on Iowa television ads and more spending is planned. The commercials will run from now until the first votes are casts in next year's presidential primary season.

A pro-Perry Super PAC, Make Us Great Again, is also in the process of placing orders, though it was not immediately clear how much the Super PAC is spending. The group spent about $280,000 last week to run ads in Iowa and South Carolina, which holds its primary Jan. 21.

Despite the financial strength of Perry's campaign, the Texas governor continues to lag in the polls, coming in fourth in a survey of likely caucus goers released Tuesday. Perry received 11 percent support from likely caucus goers in the CBS News/New York Times survey, behind former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

The advertising push this month has invested heavily in spots that promote Perry's faith, an attempt to win over conservative voters in Iowa who have proven to be loyal caucus attendees. In a new ad entitled "Strong," Perry accuses President Obama of promulgating a "war on religion."

"I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Christian, but you don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school," Perry says. He pledges to end the "liberal attacks on our religious heritage."

Last week, Perry released an ad called "Faith" that said everyone, including leaders, need gods help.

[jwilsonteaolcom]

Is Perry just stupid?!!There is as many if not more democrate as repbulicans chriatian Its not a politicial issue rick, what is a party that is so SELFISH(REPUB.) and dont jesus (Christ ) Want us to help poor and needy LIke kids ,old people And rick and reps. want to help RICH? that dont sound christian rick perry . you must be miss reading BIBLE...

[norcalruss]

It doesn't matter how much money Perry spends in Iowa, he'll still come in no better than 4th place and will out of the race after New Hampshire where he struggles to hold on to 2% in the polls. His campaign was done before Herman Cain's, but Perry is such an idiot he doesn't know it and still has cash to spend.

[norcalruss]

Perry is a bumbling incompetent idiot who is now hiding behind GOD in a desperate attempt to save a campaign that has become a joke, and should have been abandoned weeks ago. All the ad money now would do any good, it'll be like putting lipstick on a pig.

[mountainstates1]

A million dollars for a tv ad. What a horrible waste of money. Wouldn't you love to see one of these elite rich politicians take that money in front of the cameras and donate it to a worthile charity like the ASPCA, for example. Perry's worthless ad will be forgotten the day after it's aired.

[qyeteye]

Just a reminder of the historical facts of GOP policies and positions:

Great Depression, Savings & Loan Debacle, Great Recession, Credit Downgrade.

Learn and vote out to where Republicans claim to best represent, Private Enterprise and the Free Market. Its the Right thing to do.

[Lindag10]

One good thing has happened, now that Perry stopped having tent revivals praying for rain in Texas, they're getting some rain there. Seems like there's a moral in that somewhere.

[kevjustice]

oh well, that's one million wasted/down the drain for perry/his contributors. good for advertisers though.

[doctor_know]

Well, I guess that money he spent will be good for the economy......

[jeannettelj]

Save your $$$ Perry. You don't have a chance!

[bigsk8fan]

good money after bad!

[satin_lingerie]

Minds well throw in the towel Rick Perry.

A fitting TV Ad would be you selling crap at an estate sale with you stating, "See my junk. Make me your President and I will use all my brain power to put a flushing toilet in every house in Iowa. Then we will work up from there."