the next seven days will be the most important yet of the campaign. including the first two debates to include perry and major economic speeches by both mitt romney and the president. a forum sponsored by conservative kingmaker conservative jim demint went on without perry, giving romney a chance to appeal to tea party conservatives. we didn t raise taxes, mr. president. we didn t cut medicare. one president in modern history cut medicare. this president. reporter: tea party support has helped fuel perry s rise. but he is a former democrat who has a record that includes votes to raise taxes, opposition to building a wall on the mexican border, and a stint as the co-chairman of al gore s 1988 presidential campaign. not all conservatives are sold on him yet. how strong a candidate is rick perry? i don t know yet. i ve never met rick. we talked on the phone several times. and i know he s the new one in the race so he s attracted some attention. but it s a long run between now and th