It seems Perry continues his charmed life as a politician.

We may think Perry's financial ties to Merck are a big deal.   But unfortunately this comes out at the same time as the Solyndra bankkruptcy..    And for the huge majority of the electorate, the loss of about $535 million in taxpayer funds may just possibly outweigh the somewhat smaller figure involved in Perry's maneuvering of the vaccine.

I was also very interested to listen to the head of the Cincinnati tea party ( didn't even know Cincinnati had a Tea Party.)

Though many may think Perry lost the recent GOP debate and that Romney was one of the winners, according to the Cincinnati Tea Party man, after the debate Romney had even less support than before.   Reason:   he said the right things, but based on his track record, hardly anybody believes he will follow through.

Added to which,Tea Party people are looking for somebody who will carry the fight to Obama.   More and more, they think Perry, not Romney, is that man.

And the Tea Party--which is where the passion is--will carry outsized weight in GOP primaries.    Just as the anti-Iraq war group did in Democratic primaries in 2008.