Steve Forbes: Rick Perry Will Win the White House

Texas Governor Rick Perry is the front runner for the GOP presidential nomination, according to the latest USA Today/Gallup poll. Perry leads Mitt Romney 31% to 24%. But Perry trails President Obama head-to-head 50% to 45%.

The Daily Ticker's Aaron Task and Henry Blodget sat down with Steve Forbes, the one time presidential candidate and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media, to handicap the race. Though he has yet to officially endorse him, Forbes is betting on Perry.

"I think at the end of the day Perry will win the nomination, and I think he'll win the election."

Forbes thinks Perry has the right message on the economy that resonates with the electorate. "The criticism of the Federal Reserve is right on, he's for tax simplification, certainly no blow-out in spending," he says. "So in terms of issues that matter most to the people I think he's going to be a winner."

Perry has pledged to create jobs and get the country's fiscal house in order without raising taxes. Just how can he do that? Forbes says he can close the budget gap through "growth" and spending restraint, aka shrinking government.

And, what about that endorsement?

For now, Forbes is just "leaning" toward Perry, but "stay tuned."