What's interesting about the $5,000 is that it indicates clearly that Perry cannot think on his feet.   He had prepared for the question about the vaccine--but only from the angle of forcing girls to have the vaccine, not from the crony capitalism approach.

So his answer was feeble.   It leaves him wide open to the old gibe:   "You can't be bought for $5,000?    OK, we've established what you are, we're just haggling over the price."    He had to say:   "I'm not for sale at any price." He blew it.

But the question is what difference it makes--for the reason I cited: Tea Party supporters are looking for somebody who will aggressively pursue Obama.   Romney will have his hands full trying to establish that he stands for anything.    So that leaves Perry--if his heresy on immigration issues can be accepted by the Right.   My guess is that it can---and if so, as I indicated in the OP, that will pay dividends in the general election.