Decades from now, legions will be claiming they were at last night’s Republican debate in Rochester, Michigan, when Rick Perry had his memorable forgetful moment. The Texas governor said he’d ax three federal agencies if elected president: the departments of Education and Commerce, and—what’s that other one? Try as he might, he couldn’t recall. The clip is below.
His website is now trying to make the best of things. “What part of the Federal Government would you like to forget about the most?” it asks visitors. “Click here to vote!”
Perry’s staying in the race, he said this morning: “This ain’t a day for quitting nothing.” But on the political betting site Intrade, his chance of getting the nomination dropped from 9 percent before the debate to 4.8 percent today.