In South Carolina, Perry waits...and waits...and waits

Campaign events are often carefully orchestrated, with supporters marshaled to walk with candidates, shake their hands, ask softball questions. But Rick Perry ran into some awkwardness Monday afternoon when control was taken out of his hands.

At the Poinsett Club, a private association located in a Colonial house in Greenville, business leaders and local politicians gathered around tables as wait staff served them fried chicken, macaroni and broccoli. Gov. Perry was the featured speaker, but before he had a chance to speak in front of First Monday, a group of Republicans who meet monthly to hear from politicians, the organizer called for anyone representing other political candidates to stand up in front of the room.

That gave a chance for people representing Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum to stand up in front of the room – and in front of Perry, to say why they supported their candidate (and, tacitly, not Perry). Stephen Brown, who ran for South Carolina Republican Party chairman last year, voiced his support for Santorum. A Gingrich supporter followed, standing up to say that South Carolinians needed to “ask ourselves who has solutions as large as the problems,” as Perry looked on. Dressed in a gray suit and red tie, he listened to supporters of his opponents speak, lips pursed.

Perry had the last word, giving a speech shortly thereafter touching on his main stumping points of reducing the size of government by making Congress part time, and introducing a balanced-budget amendment.

“Americans don’t want a government that’s playing a bigger role in their lives,” he said.

His last last word, though, was not an accurate one.

“Early voting starts today,” he said. “If you have my back on Jan. 21, I’ll have yours.”

South Carolina is not a state that allows early voting; people must vote on election day unless they file an absentee ballot.