(CNN) – Rick Perry sought to defend a recent gaffe in an interview Wednesday, but in the same appearance made another.
On Tuesday, the Republican presidential candidate incorrectly said the voting age in the U.S. is 21 instead of 18 and that the 2012 presidential election is on Nov. 12 instead of Nov. 6, mistakes Perry characterized as human error.
"Look I'm a human being … I'm going to make some mistakes from time to time in my remarks," Perry said on Fox News.
He added that the focus on his missteps is an effort to distract from his policy proposals.
"When someone doesn't want to talk about the substantive issues, when they don't want to talk about the flat tax that I've laid out, when they don't want to talk about major overhaul of Washington, D.C. like going to a part-time Congress, which most of the states operate very well with, they want to find some little error that you've made and go talk about that," Perry said.
But in the same interview, in which Perry appeared from New Hampshire, the Texas governor incorrectly identified the state's early voting contest as "caucuses" instead of a "primary."
"Americans haven't decided yet at all who they want to lead the Republican nomination and we're going to be talking about that, we're going to be talking about it in harsh and strong terms over the course of the next four to five weeks are we get ready for those New Hampshire caucuses," Perry said.
New Hampshire will host the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 10, following the first-in-the-nation caucuses in Iowa, where Perry has focused the bulk of his energies, on Jan. 3.
Perry rocketed to the top of national and state-wide polls after his late entry into the 2012 race, but has since seen his support fall after disappointing debate performances and errors on the campaign trail.
A recent CNN/ORC International poll of Republican voters showed Perry in 4th place with 11% support behind former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 24%, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 20% and former pizza executive Herman Cain with 17%.
From CNN Politics
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It really is amazing to see how dumb Rick Perry actually is. His ignorance about such basic issues as voting age is truly colossal. One feels sorry for the people in Texas to be ruled by someone like him but, of course, it also shows that they are mostly as dumb as he is.
I find it odd. No article at CNN on POTUS calling the British Embassy in Tehran the English Embassy. I suppose they must have overlooked that foot in the moment.
Rick Perry: "Ten yars ago I could not spel Guverner, now I are one."
I find it odd. No article at CNN on POTUS calling the British Embassy in Tehran the English Embassy. I suppose they must have overlooked that foot in the mouth moment.
No mention of Obama's gaffe yesterday with calling the Britain's embassy the "English Embassy"? CNN again shows its true colors.
wsest – Just because some of us dont approve of his work doesn't mean we wont vote for him. Especially when the best the GOP can offer consists of the current group of clowns.. The GOP's cast is uninspiring and downright depressing.. most people feel that way including those who will hold their nose and vote ABO..
Which is why ABO people are still trying to get Palin, Ryan and Christie in the race..
If he chooses Dan Quayle has his running mate, we would have a perfect "Dumb and Dumber" ticket.
Someone criticized CNN for reporting this. He's a Presidential candidate. Basic knowledge of the voting age, caucuses, primaries and election dates should be common knowledge. He he is too lazy to review or too stupid to remember.
Perry, like Cain, has a mind like a steel...lump of steel.
It's really sad, when even I start feeling sorry for a Republican. Mr. Perry... stop, please. You're making even liberals embarrassed on your behalf.
Funny how the usual "why is CNN wasting their time on this?" crowd is out in full force, I mean the right wing media "never" puts out anything trivial such as sound bit mistakes, etc about Democrats (is there a sarcasm smiley around, just in case Republicans are too dense to figure out that this is a sarcastic remark)
Without the Republican lies and half truths mixed in, I think possibly it was a human error. I could give him the benefit of the doubt. Go Rick! I don't know a democrat that is not for you.
I am very amused that the best examples in these posts of mis-spoken phrases (words) our President has used are "57" and "English". Really, after three years of constantly being in the public spotlight, can 't you do any better than that?! And do you really believe that President Obama needs a teleprompter when answering questions and talking with the leaders of the world? Good grief! You most certainly don't have to agree with all or any of his policies, but to imply he needs a teleprompter is ridiculous.
Governor Perry is a very gregarious and ambitious man. There are many similarities between the physical appearance of the Governor Perry and President Reagan and probably that is important to Governor Perry. He has many of the same facial expressions. It is surprising that the media has not written about that. However, the governor does not have the same political prowess. Reagan appeared to be very relaxed all the time – his days as an actor helped him immensely.
Seems Perry and Bush have a few things in common. Perry can not speak without misspeaking, they both come from Texas after destroying the state's economy, and they have no idea how to lead.
Consistently DELAYED!
Some of these Texans must have been out in the sun too long.
Some verbal gaffes are to be expected from anyone. But if a presidential candidate can't get the voting age, or the DAY HE MIGHT GET ELECTED correct, he's got no business handling the much more serious job of running the country.
Every time Perry opens his mouth, we Texans sink lower in our chairs.
wait.......is this any worse than Obamas 57 states comment? Even though 'm sure Obama knows how manty states their are and he misspoke. Is Perry is just stupid? No. The grind gets to these people. I'm an (I) and I can see defending Perry (in this case).
How can Perry "step into it" again? He never stepped out of it.
I'm sure all those right wing nuts who criticized Obama's misstatement about 57 states are now doing the same with Perrry. Oh, wait. They're not? That's right. They're driven by hate of Obama, not facts.
How did he get elected Governor of Texas - oh yeah, he was GWs lieutenant Governor, guess he didn't seem so dumb by comparison.
When they make the movie will he be played by Chevy Chase ?
Rick Perry should just call It Quit, you think by now he be trier of sticking his foot In his mouth. And Proving just how dumb this man really Is. And the Republican party keep asking him to run until he say OK. They much really be hurting to keep going after this IDIOT.
I make errrors, too, Rick, but I'll never say the voting age in America is 21 or that New Hampshire has caucuses. This is why: I have enough intellectual curiosity - and I read enough - that I know the correct answers. The problem I have with you is that you don't. Obama can refer to the 57 states without a hue and cry - except by Republicans bound to dump on him no matter what - because we all know he knew better. Unfortunately, your long list of gaffes has made it clear that you know very little. Presidents should know a lot.