One Theory on Why Rick Perry Is Flailing

Vanity Fair is out with a lengthy profile of Rick Perry and his sputtering campaign, complete with one Austin Democrat warning not to count him out just yet. It also floats what it says is a theory quietly circulating in Texas about why Perry has flopped on the national stage: He had major back surgery weeks before entering the race—including the injection of stem cells—and just hasn't been the same since.

“I think he’s got back pain and may be taking medication for it," Texas Monthly writer Paul Burka tells the magazine. "He is not on his game. He stopped wearing boots and started wearing orthopedic shoes and a back brace." The theory is just one small part of the profile. Click here for the full thing. Or click here to read about how the two current frontrunners are dealing with each other. (More Rick Perry 2012 stories.)