It 'could come back to haunt him': Rick Perry's alleged ties to 'demon seeing' and KKK-linked religious leader could derail campaign

Rick Perry's possible link to a religious 'apostle' known for incendiary remarks may have a serious impact on his 2012 White House bid.



Alice Patterson helped organize a religious rally - dubbed 'The Response' - last month, and was even embraced by Gov Perry on stage.



But Patterson, who serves as ‘an apostle’ with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), and her beliefs may cost the 2012 hopeful.



Preach: Alice Patterson, right, helped organize 'The Response' prayer rally for White House hopeful Rick Perry, left

Mrs Patterson, whose grandfather was in the Ku Klux Klan, says she now focuses on ‘racial healing.'



In her 2010 book, Bridging the Racial & Political Divide: How Godly Politics Can Transform a Nation, Mrs Patterson ripped gays and former president George W Bush for appointing 'an open homosexual to high office.'

She was referring to Scott Evertz, who served on the White House Office of National AIDS policy under Mr Bush.

In another excerpt from her book, she wrote: 'Lord, Father, what is the demonic structure behind the Democratic Party?'



Fiery comments: Patterson, whose grandfather was in the Ku Klux Klan, has ripped President Bush for appointing an openly gay man to high office

WHAT IS THE NAR? The church movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation is a Christian drive to develop a cohesive church to fight against evil at the 'end of days.'

It is led by 'prophets' and 'apostles,' and has risen in popularity, thanks to Rick Perry - though not always in a good light.

The movement, which has been around for decades, has been trampled in the media as the Christian 'Taliban' and a 'cult.'

But defenders say it is rooted in standard Christian beliefs, and its people are tasked with leading the church ‘in the right direction .

(Sources: Talk2action.org, letusreason.org)



Forrest Wilder, a journalist for the Texas Observer who attended the The Response, told the Enquirer that Gov Perry’s connection with Mrs Patterson and her group could be more intimate than some may think.

Mr Wilder said: 'Not only did Perry embrace Patterson, he mentioned that they’ve often prayed together.'



He added: 'His relationship with them could come back to haunt him.'



Rachel Tabachnik, a journalists and expert on the New Apostalic Reformation told the Enquirer: 'Gov Perry’s public embrace of the movement is unprecedented and a decision that could backfire.’



It would not be the first time a religious figure stirred the pot on the campaign trail.



President Obama's 2008 campaign was nearly shattered after the rants of his former pastor Jeremiah Wright hit the airwaves.

Rev Wright argued in one sermon that the 9/11 attacks were evidence that 'America’s chickens are coming home to roost' before saying 'not God Bless America! God Damn America!'

President Obama later cut all ties to the radical reverend.



A political insider told the Enquirer: 'Wright almost destroyed Obama’s chances, and Patterson could do the same for Perry.'

LATEST POLL PUTS ROMNEY AHEAD, PERRY SECOND

Rick Perry led the polls soon after jumping into the presidential race in August, beating frontrunner Mitt Romney. But now a new survey has Romney regaining his frontrunner status. The poll, carried out by Fox News from September 25-27, gives Romney the lead with 23 per cent support to Perry's 19 per cent. Herman Cain, who won Florida's straw poll last weekend, trailed Perry by just two points, with 17 percent support. Michele Bachmann continued her slide to the bottom with a mere three per cent support, down from eight per cent in August, CBS News reports. She is trailing former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman by a point. In a Fox survey less than a month earlier, Perry stood at 29 per cent, with Romney at 22 per cent. But after a series of televised Republican presidential debates in which Perry struggled, the Texas Republican appears to be losing favour among voters.







Campaign threat? A political insider says Patterson, right, could 'destroy' Rick Perry's bid for the White House







