Is Rick Perry winning the 'Donald Trump primary'?

Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, and the rest of the GOP field already have lots of contests to worry about. There are the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary, Super Tuesday votes, and so forth – all leading up to the Republican National Conventional in Tampa, Fla., next August.

And now it appears as if these weary aspirants face a new hurdle: the battle for Donald Trump’s approval.

It’s true – Texas Governor Perry had dinner with the Donald in Manhattan last week, as you may have heard. They ate at Jean-Georges, a place so exclusive the only thing it chicken-fries is your credit rating.

“It was very good. He knows his restaurants,” Perry told reporters waiting outside.

(Trump knows his tenants, at least – Jean-Georges is located in a Trump building that overlooks Central Park.)

Not to be outdone – and he tries never to be outdone, like he’s running for 2012 GOP class valedictorian and is determined to have more extra credits than anybody – Mr. Romney has requested a meeting with Mr. Trump, and will meet the real estate/gambling/celebrity mogul in New York on Sept. 26, according to ABC News.

Trump has already had in Michele Bachmann – he talked with her in July.

“I was very impressed with her, and I think she’s highly underrated,” Trump told Piers Morgan on CNN afterward.

And in May, Trump had pizza with Sarah Palin, who isn’t running, but might, especially if something bad happens to Perry’s poll numbers. Palin’s “a terrific woman and a terrific friend” said Trump following their meal.

Why are all these Republicans beating a path to the Donald’s penthouse? We won’t call this “Celebrity Presidential Apprentice,” because that’s too obvious, and we’d feel obligated to make a lame reference to Meat Loaf. So we’ll frame it as the Trump primary, or the Trump caucuses, if you prefer.

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