Ladies and gentlemen, the Republicans now have a race

The newly announced candidate for the Republican presidential primary, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, has created media buzz. According to the most recent Rasmussen poll, Perry was leading fellow Republican candidate Mitt Romney by 13 points just days after confirming his presidential run.

The media may portray Perry as just another Texan wearing boots and swooping into Washington with cowboy bravado. I say, Welcome to the race, Mr. Perry. He’s the best thing to happen to the boring and already crowded Republican presidential primary field, and I think he has a shot to win it all.

Are some of his statements a little wacky? Sure, but people are listening, and many of his opinions are right on target.

Perry was criticized for the casual way he suggested that ugly things might happen to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke if he printed more money. During a question-and-answer session in Iowa, an audience member asked Perry about the Federal Reserve’s plan in an attempt to offer American citizens relief during the continuing economic downturn.

Perry replied, “If [Bernanke] prints more money between now and the election, I don’t know what y’all would do to him in Iowa, but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas.” He went on to say, “Printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treacherous — or treasonous, in my opinion.”

In response, President Obama said that Perry “needs to realize his words now have a greater impact,” and called on Perry to apologize to Bernanke. Perry continues to stand by his remark, and I doubt he’ll apologize.