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Texas governor opts for aggressive approach during 105-minute debate and dismisses social security as a ‘Ponzi scheme’ Texas governor Rick Perry opted for a combative approach in Wednesday night’s Republican presidential debate, turning in a performance that is likely to consolidate his frontrunner status among conservatives, but alarm mainstream America with his denunciation of social security. Perry, in his first appearance in a Republican presidential debate since joining the race last month, defied pundits who predicted he would seek a quiet, safe approach. Instead, he clashed repeatedly from the opening minutes with his main rival, Mitt Romney, on issues such as jobs, health and social security. But millions of Americans are dependent on social security, and will have been worried by Perry’s dismissal of the welfare benefit as a ‘Ponzi scheme’, one that young people will pay into but will never get a return on. Asked if he wanted to reconsider his language, Perry stood his ground. “Maybe it’s time to have provocative language in this country,” he said. Romney said the country needed a president who would not do away with social security. The collision between Perry and Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, dominated the 105-minute debate, and left the other six candidates on the sidelines. With only months left until the caucuses and primaries to choose a Republican to take on Barack Obama for the White House next year, the polite skirmishing that marked the Republican debates before the summer disappeared in the first five minutes as Perry and Romney tore into each other. The debate confirmed it is now a two-horse race, with Michele Bachmann, who is in third place in the polls, the biggest loser of the night, as she was completely overshadowed by Perry and Romney. Republican strategists were divided afterwards on Perry’s strategy, with some predicting that his refusal to back down from his hard-right positions will win him the party nomination, and others expressing concern that such positions could alienate mainstream voters who will decide the White House race. Steve Schmidt, the Republican strategist who had been a campaign adviser to John McCain in the 2008 election, said Bachmann’s adventure in the race was coming to an end. She appeared tired, with much of the zest she had displayed before the summer missing. Perry, a Tea Party favourite, started off well in the debate, confident and bullish, but he may gone too far with his social security comments. Romney’s campaign team, speaking in the spin room afterwards, zeroed in on the social security issue, saying it made Perry unelectable in a White House race. “Funding for social security is in trouble and we have to fix it. That is different from saying social security is a menace to society” one of Romney’s advisers, Ron Kaufman, told MSNBC, the hosts of the debate. But Congressman Mick Mulvaney, a Perry supporter, said Perry was not suggesting changing social security for those in it but for young people. Obama’s former press secretary, Robert Gibbs, who is likely to rejoin hthe president’s team as an adviser for the next election, said Perry would be vulnerable on the issue. “Social security is pretty fertile ground if you are Rick Perry, who has a lot of explaining to do,” Gibbs said. Tom Mann, a political analyst at the Brookings Institution, felt Perry’s views on social security will harm him. “Perry made explicit views – such as those on social security – that will very likely haunt him in the weeks and months ahead. His frontrunner status was built on a house of cards and he will struggle to retain it. “Romney may take advantage of that as the only alternative who appears to have some substantial support among Republicans – and a plausible chance in a general election.” Going into the debate, Perry, who is supported by the Tea Party, was the frontrunner, with 29% of support – according to an average of polls by the Real Clear Politics organisation – and Romney on 18%. Pundits had portrayed Perry as a poor debater, thin-skinned and prone to gaffes. But was quickly engaged in personal exchanges with Romney, who is closer to the centre than Perry. Towards the end, Perry was asked about 234 executions in Texas under his governorship and the audience, primarily Republicans, applauded. Perry explained why anyone killing children or police in Texas would face “ultimate justice”, a passage that will appeal to many in the Tea Party. The next debate will be on Monday in Tampa, Florida. Republicans Rick Perry United States US politics Mitt Romney Barack Obama Ron Paul Jon Huntsman Michele Bachmann Ewen MacAskill guardian.co.uk