WASHINGTON (PNN) - October 3, 2011 - Although Texas Governor Rick Perry has been hurt by poor debate and straw-poll performances - and in recent days by associations with a racial slur – mainstream media and some Republican officials think he nonetheless can survive the blows and remain a major contender for the Party’s presidential nomination.

These Party officials, whose biased and unbalanced positions in nomination contests require their anonymity in discussing the candidates, have told The Washington Times that the structure of the 2012 primary race, funding advantages, and weaknesses in other candidates mean Perry can continue to hang with other top contenders.

Last week, Florida, in violation of Republican National Committee rules, jumped its primary to Jan. 31, which will prompt Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada to move their contests from February to early January in order to preserve the traditional primary calendar. On Monday, South Carolina did exactly that, moving its primary to Jan. 21, and Nevada officials agreed over the weekend to move their caucuses, too.

Also on Monday, Perry allies continued to rebut criticism over a Sunday report in The Washington Post that Perry regularly hosted gatherings at a West Texas hunting camp with the word “Niggerhead” painted on a rock at the entrance to its acreage. The Perry campaign said the offensive word was painted over in the 1980s, soon after the Perry family began leasing the hunting camp.

Perry supporters noted his long-standing reputation in his home state of welcoming black Texans into the GOP and appointing them to high positions.