Former Gov. Rick Perry's money woes have caused his campaign to cease paying all its staff.
The news started late Monday afternoon when National Journal reported the campaign was no longer paying its South Carolina staff. Then, CBS News reportedthat none of Perry's campaign staff anywhere in the country is getting paid anymore.
Perry, who didn't qualify for last week's prime-time debate, has struggled to break out from a lengthy list of GOP candidates this year. And his fundraising, which four years ago was strong, has "dried up," report the Tribune's Abby Livingston and The Washington Post's Philip Rucker:
Perry campaign manager Jeff Miller told staff last Friday, the day after the first Republican presidential debate, that they would no longer be paid and are free to look for other jobs — and, so far at least, most aides have stuck with Perry, this Republican said. ...
"Money is extremely tight," said Katon Dawson, Perry's South Carolina campaign chairman. “We all moved to volunteer status," he said, but added, "Our team is working as hard as it was last week." ...
But Perry's campaign aides as well as leaders of an allied super PAC said they will continue raising money and that the former governor is committed to a strong performance in the early contests next year. Perry is planning to campaign in South Carolina on Thursday and to visit Iowa next week."As the campaign moves along, tough decisions have to be made in respect to both monetary and time related resources," Perry campaign manager Jeff Miller said. "Governor Perry remains committed to competing in the early states and will continue to have a strong presence in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina."
