Perry confuses voting age in NH

[November 30, 2011]  MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) -- You might say Rick Perry courted the youth, but not the whole youth, in a campaign appearance at a New Hampshire college.

Speaking at Saint Anselm on Tuesday, he appealed to students who will be at least 21 before Election Day to vote for him, saying: "Those of you that will be 21 by November the 12th, I ask for your support and your vote."

As for those younger than 21, he merely asked them to work hard on his behalf. Doesn't he want their votes too?

It turns out Perry didn't know or had forgotten that the voting age in America is 18.

Perry made another slip too, referring to "November the 12th" as Election Day. New Hampshire will become the first state in the nation to host a Republican presidential primary on Jan. 10; the general election is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2012.

The flubs caused some whispers in the crowd. He did not address them or take questions from reporters after the event, which was the third of four campaign stops in the state Tuesday.

Campaign spokesman Paul Young says Perry "clearly misspoke."

The Texas governor has become a favorite of late-night comedians in recent weeks. During a presidential debate earlier in the month, he couldn't recall a key element of his plan to reform government.

[Associated Press; By STEVE PEOPLES]

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