Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-396-6974; Ryan Rogge, 703-396-6971; after 6 PM Eastern & on weekends, Bob Sturm, 703-307-8176; Ryan Rogge, 703-674-6948

MANASSAS, Va., Sept. 7, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, issued the following statement regarding the outcome of the Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California:

"No one knocked Rick Perry off his perch.

"There are two principal tests a candidate must pass to become the Republican nominee in 2012.

"First, the candidate must be seen to be a conservative. Second, the candidate must convince Republican primary voters that he or she can beat President Obama.

"When Governor Perry announced his candidacy, I said he was the only candidate who met both tests.

"There were eight candidates on the stage. To win the debate, one of the other GOP contenders had to meet those two tests -- be seen as a conservative and show he or she can beat Obama. And the person had to show he or she can do those two things better than Rick Perry.

"Each of the candidates had their moments and each showed they had a constituency, but none of the other candidates scaled that tall mountain and knocked Perry out of the front runner's role."

NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation) and one of the "conservatives of the century" (Washington Times). He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.