Lead up to the CNN/Tea Party Express Debate in Tampa, Florida

AUSTIN – Texas Gov. Rick Perry today announced his participation in the CNN/Tampa Tea Party Express Debate on Sept. 12 at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

"The Tea Party plays an important role in advancing principles of fiscal responsibility and conservative governance across our nation through its efforts to recruit and elect leaders that will fight to instill these values in the halls of government at all levels throughout our nation," said Gov. Perry. "I look forward to the opportunity this debate presents to discuss my record of conservative leadership and to share my vision with the great people of this country about how we will get America working again."

The Tea Party Debate is a first-of-its-kind event that will bring conservative candidates for President together to discuss tea party principles, and determine which candidate has the best solutions to lead the United States of America and her people into greater freedom and prosperity.

Washington, DC – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and others to be announced later, will hold a press conference on Monday, September 12, at 4:00 pm in the Pavilion on the State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL in advance of the CNN\Tea Party Express GOP Presidential debate. The Chair will also be available from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM for individual interviews in the same location.

***contact info. redacted-ed.***

Republican Presidential hopefuls will take the stage Monday night to deliver more of the same failed policies of the past to the American people. While the President continues to fight for the middle class, offering a new jobs plan just this week, the GOP has made it clear they are concerned about only one job, the Presidents.

Wasserman Schultz had this to say in advance of Monday's debate:

"This week we saw two leading Republicans running for President who would do great harm to Social Security if not dismantle it entirely. One candidate, Rick Perry, was honest about his hostility towards Social Security while the other, Mitt Romney, was not. Mitt Romney's support for privatizing Social Security is as dangerous to the future of the program as Rick Perry's attitude and over the top rhetoric.

"The truth is, Republicans like Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and George Bush before them have had their sights set on dismantling Social Security and the American people have emphatically said, 'no.'

"Now these candidates are coming to Florida - a state with a heavy senior and retiree population. Seniors don't want either Rick Perry or Mitt Romney's approach to dismantling Social Security - and they have already expressed opposition to this field's support for the Ryan Republican plan to end Medicare as we know it.

"Ending Medicare and dismantling Social Security are curious positions for candidates campaigning in Florida - but that's exactly what these Republicans support and believe. At this debate and for the entirety of this campaign we'll make sure voters know it."

• WHO: Democratic Party Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and others TBD

• WHERE: Pavilion building on Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US Hwy. 301 North, Tampa, FL 33610

Remarks

PRESS RELEASE from Gary Johnson 2012

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE GARY JOHNSON TO TWEET DURING CNN DEBATE

September 12, 2011, Santa Fe, NM - Presidential Candidate Gary Johnson will tweet his reactions during the GOP presidential debate taking place tonight on CNN at 8:00pm ET. Followers can keep track of his comments during the debate on his Twitter @GovGaryJohnson.

PRESS RELEASE from Fred Karger for President
September 12, 2011

Contact: Rina Shah

Karger in Tampa and on CNN Debate

TAMPA, FLORIDA – Former Reagan aide, Fred Karger did not make the cutoff to be in tonight’s Presidential debate, but he will be on CNN during it via his 30 second commercial. TO WATCH IT – CLICK ON SCREEN SHOT BELOW:

“I was hoping to be on that stage to talk about my ideas to turn this country around like my old boss Ronald Reagan did, but again I was not invited to join my fellow candidates for President to debate the issues,” said Karger. “So instead, we will be running our latest commercial, 'Tyrannosaurus Rex', where I take on the world’s largest oil company Exxon Mobil and its CEO, Rex Tillerson during tonight’s debate. We have purchased commercial time in the Tampa market to run this hard-hitting 30 second spot produced by our filmmaker, John Keitel.”

  “Big oil continues to gouge consumers at the pump, while reaping obscene profits. While I am a firm believer in business and the private sector, Exxon Mobil is damaging our economy and hurting American families. I want to help lead the fight to bring down gas prices, and I am starting in Tampa tonight.”

“I spoke Saturday in Stratham, New Hampshire at the Seacoast Republican Women’s Chili Fest at the famous Scamman Farm about some of my plans to turn our economy around. We need to do what President Reagan did 29 years ago when he worked closely with Congress to pass the Economic Recovery Act of 1981. Inflation, unemployment and the morale in this country all needed to be turned around and he did it. President Reagan brought his strong brand of optimism to the country when we needed it most. I want the opportunity to do the same.”

  “My fellow candidates for President will undoubtedly go after each other again tonight, and attack President Obama at every turn. If I were in the debate, I would talk about bringing back the American spirit and putting our country first, not my political career.”

Karger will live-blog for the Huffington Post from Tampa as he has done for the other four debates. He will also tweet his comments and reactions which are often picked up and retweeted. Follow Fred on Twitter @FredKarger