Orlando, Florida (CNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday asked an audience of social conservatives in Florida to pray for President Barack Obama.
"As I campaign for president, I not only ask you for your vote and your support, I ask you for your prayers," Perry said. "I ask you to pray for our country. I ask you to pray for our president to give him wisdom, to open his eyes."
Perry was addressing a rally organized by the conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition ahead of Thursday night's GOP presidential debate in Orlando.
As he was deciding whether to run for president, Perry said prayer played a powerful role. The governor said he couldn't have entered the race "without being driven to my knees on many occasions."
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We will all need prayer if Rick Perry gets elected President!
If Perry believes so strongly in the power of prayer, then why does he need big corporate donors? Beware all those who claim God is on their side.
Lets see, where have I seen this before.....oh, thats right – GW Bush. Perry I'm going to pray you go away.
Obama may need prayer but Perry doesn't have a prayer. Romney in 12!
I just can't help but notice how well Perry's prayers for rain in Texas worked. I think they got 1/4" last month.
what happened to perrys prayer for rain and an end to the drought in texass? someone is not listening
Really? "Driven to my knees on many occasions"? And, "pray for the president" is such a condescending thing - exactly what type of personality I do not want to see in the house....
Perry jumped the shark early, I see.
He should tell them to pray for themselves, this selfish, horrible, racist group of people, including Perry need all the help they can get.
It's unfortunate but unsurprising to see prayer politicized in this way. If Perry had simply said 'pray to give him wisdom' it could have shown his good will in hoping for the best for the country and praying for everyone – even his opponent. The 'open his eyes' remark makes the whole thing insincere. But I'd expect no less from Perry.
Good plan. Let's just sit back and pray.
After last's night's performance it looks as if it is Perry that needs prayer.
This man loves to blur the lines between religion and government like no other. Quite a dangerous quality in a Presidential candidate. We are not a theocracy.
I pray he doesn't get elected!
I find this scary.
His state is experiencing a heat wave, drought and fire and all he can do is a Christian version of a rain dance. How has that worked out?
I just don't trust this man. Don't know why, it's just a feeling.
If I were you and believed that prayer actually works I'd pray to win the lottery.....
What happened to separation of church and State? Come on people, leave prayer out of our politics and we can actually do something with this country.
This is good to see out of Gov. Perry, standing up and being a nice guy. He gets my vote.
Perry doesn't need to pray for rain in TX – there's plenty of water in the aquifer but he's given it to the oil companies to use for fracking. He's praying for the media to keep it quiet so his water-starved farmers won't revolt and put him through the combine.
I love it when these conservative Republican politicians display their Christian superiority....
Actually, there's really not plenty of water in the aquifer either, but that's a different issue.
Great idea! Worked so well when he prayed for rain in Texas... I have a feeling god isn't listening to this guy.
Keep religion out of politics!