'Americans are tired of political correctness'

Rick Perry spoke with TIME's Rick Stengel and Mark Halperin on Sept. 13. Excerpts follow:

What does your rise in the polls say about the Republican Party?

I think it's a reflection of here's someone they trust, who has the leadership skills and has a track record of doing what this country needs at this particular point in time, which is to get America working again.

Do you feel pressure to temper some of your rhetoric, like calling the Obama Administration socialist?

No, I still believe they are socialist. Their policies prove that almost daily. Look, when all the answers emanate from Washington, D.C., whether it's education policy or health care policy, that is, on its...

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