Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday that his command of the issues, military service and 14 years running Texas all mean he at least deserves one of 10 spots onstage at next week’s Republican debate.
“There’s an incredible amount of issues that you have to be more than passably knowledgeable about,” Perry told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Thursday.
Perry is running at the back of the pack of candidates right now, and, at this point, appears unlikely to make the cut to appear on stage next week. Fox News’ prime time debate will feature only the top 10 polling Republican candidates.
The latest national Quinnipiac Poll, released Thursday, showed businessman Donald Trump dominating the field of 16 major name candidates with 20% of support, folllowed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at 13% and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 10%.
“Having worn the uniform of the country, being the governor of the 12th largest economy in the world the last 14 years, all of that makes me pretty unique,” Perry said.
Perry, a former Air Force captain, challenged Trump to a pull-up contest Wednesday, just the latest jab he’s thrown Trump’s way.
“Let’s get a pull-up bar out there and let’s see who can do the most pull-ups,” he said.