Crowley Political Report

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is "all in" for this month's Presidency 5 Straw Poll, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

"Gov. Perry is fully committed to participating in P5," said Perry campaign spokesman Ray Sullivan. "The governor is committed to working hard for the vote in Florida. We have the beginnings of a very good organization in Florida and believe the governor's message will win support in Florida."

Perry is also planning a fundraising blitz throughout Florida leading up to the start of Presidency 5 as Crowley Political Report noted in an earlier report.

Of course the immediate speculation is whether Perry's comments about Social Security will alienate Florida's older voters. 

Ever since Perry upped the ante by pushing even harder against Social Security during Wednesday's debate, commentators have said that Perry's description  of the program as a "Ponzi scheme" and a "monstrous lie" could hurt him.

On Friday, the Morning Joe roundtable was still questioning Perry's remarks with Joe Scarborough asking if Perry wants to end Social Security entirely.

Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann have shown less interest in Presidency 5 but with Perry making a push it will behoove them to embrace the Florida Republican Party's 3,500 delegates. Ignore them now, and it could hurt Bachmann and Romney in next year's critical Florida primary.

Why? Because these are the activists who help turn out the vote.

More on Rick Perry's Presidency 5 decision on the St. Pete Times Buzz.

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