Texas Gov. Rick Perry to stump for Ed Martin on Friday in Cape

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the former presidential candidate and favorite of the tea party movement, will be in Cape Girardeau on Friday to try to persuade voters that Ed Martin should be Missouri's next attorney general.

On Sunday, Martin, a Republican, said that he chose Cape Girardeau because its residents tend to have core, conservative values that align with both his and Perry's, who has been governor of the Lone Star State since 2000 and ran for the Republican nomination for president in late 2011 and early 2012. Since Martin announced his candidacy against Attorney General Chris Koster, he has made several campaign visits to Cape Girardeau.

"It's no coincidence we're coming to Southeast Missouri," Martin said. "When we win, we have to win because voters see not the R or the D, but because we're conservative and there's a real understanding of the rule of law. If you can make your case to the people there, you can win across the state."

The rally will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Arena Building, 410 Kiwanis Drive. The event is free and open to the public, but a ticket is required to enter. Tickets can be obtained by calling Martin's campaign headquarters at 314-256-1776.

Cape Girardeau County GOP chairman Evan Trump said his organization will volunteer for the event, whether by distributing tickets or serving as door greeters. Getting Perry to attend a rally for Martin is a real coup for the campaign, Trump said.

"Ed Martin's already doing really well in the campaign so far," Trump said. "I think this is just going to solidify him for those who are on the fence. Rick Perry sees the kind of person Ed Martin is and knows he's the kind of person we need running against Chris Koster."

Before he gets that chance, Martin will have to beat fellow Republican Adam Lee Warren of Chillicothe, Mo. Martin has the fundraising edge in the Aug. 7 Republican primary, with $300,000 as of the April campaign filing, compared to Warren's $10,000. On Sunday, Martin said his campaign will have raised nearly a quarter-million dollars by the end of this quarter, but that's still far less than Koster's $2 million campaign chest. The general election is Nov. 6.

But Martin dismissed that disadvantage, saying that Koster's money comes from trial lawyers who want state business and from unions.

"Money is not always a sign of corruption, but it is often a leading indicator," Martin said. "With Chris Koster, it is an indicator of pure pay to play. That will make it such a better story when we win."

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, said she was also pleased Perry will be here this week. She described him as a "true conservative" and an "energetic spokesman" for the party.

"He and Ed make a great team, and they both represent the ideals of our Republican Party very well," she said.

Martin said that the Perry event should be a big boost to his campaign.

"Governor Perry is a great patriot and a conservative fighter," said Martin, a St. Louis lawyer. He "believes in the American values of freedom and liberty that made the USA the greatest nation in history. He knows what it will take to stand up and defeat big-government outrages such as Obama-Care."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO