Perry throws punches, Bachmann holds them

Republican presidential candidates Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., left, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, right, stand together before a debate at the Reagan Library Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – In the fourth Republican presidential primary debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry came out swinging in his first appearance, taking on everyone from his rivals to Karl Rove and former Vice President Dick Cheney.

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, on the other hand, refrained from attacking other Republican candidates, instead choosing to go after Obama.

The Perry campaign declared victory after the debate, contending that the debate was “Perry against the world.”

“I think he took barbs from both the moderators and the other candidates,” said Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, a surrogate for the Perry campaign. “I think he came out of the debate stronger than he went into it, and I think it’s a huge win for him.”

The debate began with a square-off between the governor of Texas and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on their records of job creation. Romney made an oblique reference to Perry being a career politician, adding that it was a “fine profession,” but one that he didn’t feel it qualified someone to run for president.

Romney then took a swipe at Perry for not acknowledging the fundamental differences between Massachusetts and Texas as states. Texas, he said, had a better climate for job creation –– a Republican legislature and a right to work policy, among other things. (RELATED: Gingrich: I’d fire Ben Bernanke as Fed chairman tomorrow)

“Those are wonderful things,” Romney said, “but Gov. Perry doesn’t believe that he created those things. If he tried to say that, well, it would be like Al Gore saying he invented the Internet.”

“Michael Dukakis created jobs three times faster than you did, Mitt,” Perry shot back.

“Well, as a matter of fact, George Bush and his predecessor created jobs at a faster rate than you did, Governor,” responded Romney.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman later jumped in, taking a swipe at Perry and noting, “I hate to rain on the parade of the Lone Star governor, but as governor of Utah, we were the number one job creator in this country during my years of service. That was 5.9 percent when you were creating jobs at 4.9 percent.”

Texas Rep. Ron Paul also went after his home state governor for his 1993 letter to Hillary Clinton commending her for her attempts to reform health care. At the time, Perry was the state’s agricultural commissioner, and he has defended the letter saying that nobody at the time knew what a “monstrosity” would emerge from the process.

“Speaking of letters,” Perry shot back, “I was more interested in the one that you wrote to Ronald Reagan back and said I’m going to quit the party because of the things you believe in.” (RELATED: Perry says Karl Rove has been ‘over the top for a long time’)

Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum both went after Perry on the issue of an executive order requiring girls to get vaccinated against HPV. Romney, on the other hand, gave Perry a “mulligan” on the issue.

Perry played up the sense that he was being attacked from all sides.

“I kind of feel like the piñata here at the party,” said Perry when he was given a chance to respond to the criticisms of the HPV vaccine mandate.

NEXT: Romney campaign slams Perry for Ponzi scheme comment