Gov. Perry joins presidential fray in S.C.
CHARLESTON, S.C., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry Saturday emphasized job creation as he kicked off his presidential candidacy at a conservative gathering in South Carolina.
About 700 activists attending the RedState Gathering in Charleston gave Perry a standing ovation as he appeared at 1 p.m., the campaign said.
"It's time to get America working again. It's time to give a pink slip to the current residents of the White House," he said.
Perry also touched on conservative social themes, mentioning his small-town roots in Paint Creek, Texas, his long marriage and his opposition to abortion. He called for greater support for Israel, saying President Obama has "insulted our friends."
Shortly before his speech, Perry also made his candidacy official in a conference call with South Carolina Republicans, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Perry's announcement appeared calculated to distract attention from the Iowa Straw Poll, which was under way in Ames Saturday.
Before his announcement, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley told activists at the Francis Marion Hotel they have a "superstar" appearing before them, USA Today reported. She later backtracked a bit, telling reporters the Republican field is full of superstars.
Perry has done well in polls of Republican voters. He appears to appeal to many voters because he combines more than 10 years as Texas governor with the values of the party's Christian evangelical wing.
But Perry also comes from the same state as President George W. Bush, which could turn off many voters, including some Republicans.
Iowa straw poll could cut GOP field
AMES, Iowa, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Saturday's Iowa straw poll could weed some candidates out of the crowded Republican presidential field.
The poll may be make-or-break time for Tim Pawlenty, who served as governor in neighboring Minnesota and has invested more time and money in Iowa than his rivals, The Hill reported. It also could be critical for Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and for two lagging candidates, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.
Pawlenty said Friday he would have to "reassess" his decision to run if he does badly.
"We may not have any choice, if it went that way," he told reporters at an Iowa breakfast sponsored by Politico.
Two strong candidates have decided to ignore the poll. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is in South Carolina, where he is expected to make his candidacy official, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has stayed away for the most part along with former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.
The straw poll tends to be a measure of the quality of a candidate's ground operation in Iowa. Supporters are being lured to Ames with food and in Bachmann's case performances by country singers, the Des Moines Register reported.
'I just might' Palin glad-hands Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told an Iowa crowd she hasn't decided whether she is running for president.
On the eve of the state's straw poll, Palin deflected all media questions about whether she intended to enter the Republican pool of presidential candidates.
"I think there is plenty of time to jump in the race," she said. "Watching the whole process over the last year certainly shows me that, yes, there is plenty of room for more people."
After the 2008 election in which Democrat Barack Obama defeated John McCain, Palin wrote a book and became a commentator on the conservative Fox TV news channel. She also hosted a TV series about life in Alaska.
At her Iowa appearance, Palin denied she was using her celebrity status to detract from other Republican presidential hopefuls.
"I don't think I'm stealing any spotlights," she said. "We're very thankful to have been invited by friends, and I'm glad we could make it."
Report: Syrian tanks enter Latakia
LATAKIA, Syria, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Syrian government tanks rolled into Latakia Saturday, with residents fleeing under heavy gunfire, human-rights activists said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights in London said women and children fled en masse after tanks and armored personnel carriers descended on the southern district of Al-Ramleh, which has seen large demonstrations against President Bashar Assad in recent days, Radio France Internationale reported.
Another activist in Homs said two tanks flanked by troops entered Jussiyeh on the border with Lebanon, causing more residents to flee across the border.
The Observatory said 2,150 people are confirmed dead since the beginning of protests in May, and at least 16 people were killed Friday by Syrian forces.
