Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry swung through Sonoma County Tuesday, attending a $500 per head fundraiser at Healdsburg’s Jordan Vineyard and Winery, according to the The Press Democrat.
Winery CEO John Jordan hosted the Texas governor at the 1,300-acre Alexander Valley Estate, scheduled for late afternoon. It was closed to the public.
“I think he’s a very impressive guy,” Jordan previously told The Press Democrat recently.
Jordan, 39, ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 1998 and has since turned his attention to running the winery his father, oil tycoon Tom Jordan, founded in 1972.
Jordan originally supported former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, hosting a fundraiser for him in March before Pawlenty dropped out. Pawlenty now supports Perry’s main rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Republican presidential candidates don’t generally fare well on Election Day in Sonoma County where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than two to one.
Jordan said last week he expected 100 to 150 donors to attend the event which includes the chance for a photo and private chat with Perry for $2,500.
Perry was an early front-runner for the nomination, but has stumbled recently with poor showings in debates. A Washington Post/ABC News polls out Tuesday shows support for Perry at 16 percent, 9 points behind Romney and equal with businessman Herman Cain.
Perry has fallen 13 points since the last Washington Post/ABC News poll a month earlier.
Distributed by MCT Information Services
