The Bible may describe God's eternal redemption of mortal souls in a more soaring spiritual fashion, but Rick Perry has a more, well, personal way to describe it. 

"Every one of us has ‘oops moments’ every day,” the Texas governor and former presidential candidate told his audience at an Austin breakfast to celebrate the National Day of Prayer. “America may not forgive you for it, but God will.”

According to the Associated Press, Perry's self-effacing joke -- referencing the infamous Nov. 9 debate when he was unable to remember the third of three federal agencies he would pledge to eliminate -- won laughter and applause from the crowd. 

The November gaffe proved fatal to Perry's already-struggling presidential campaign, despite his team's attempts to diffuse the moment with light-hearted humor and a frenzy of interviews explaining why he "stepped in it." 

Perry also took the occasion of the faith event this morning to pray for the current president, as he did at several prayer rallies during the campaign. 

He says he hopes that President Barack Obama will "truly understand God's will to protect innocent life. I pray for his true understanding of God's will for this country," he said, per the AP. 

BLYTHEWOOD, SC -- The vulture flies no more.

Gov. Rick Perry's address to about 40 diners at famed Southern cookin' joint Lizards Thicket Thursday offered a healthy helping of anti-Obama rhetoric with a side of swipes at the "insiders" who are running for the presidency.

But his least appetizing metaphor for Mitt Romney -- one in which he graphically compared Romney's former company Bain Capital to a vulture picking at the carcasses of damaged companies -- had vanished from his speech.

The Texas governor first unveiled the "vulture capitalism" term on Tuesday, echoing a similar line of attack to Newt Gingrich has used against the former Massachusetts governor.

Perry used the term three times in one speech yesterday but then appeared to abruptly drop it during later campaign stops.

The wave of Bain attacks has subsided as conservative commentators ripped Perry for being "anti-free-market" and providing fodder for Democratic critics of Romney, should the presumed frontrunner become the GOP's nominee.

In Blythewood, he began a sentence that sounded like a possible wind-up to a defense against those pundits.

"I'm a capitalist and I believe in the profit motive, but there is a point in time where we have to say 'Wait a minute, what is going on here?'" he began.

But instead of launching into the story of workers in Gaffney, SC laid off at the hands of Bain -- a staple for the last few days in South Carolina -- he dinged the US Treasury for its cozy relationships with Wall Street banks, a months-old critique.

Perry's tempered criticism comes against the backdrop of a defection by a top Perry backer, Barry Wynn, to Romney's campaign. Wynn told the Associated Press that the Texas governor's recent attacks on Romney's record at Bain had spurred his decision to switch sides in the primary.

Asked about the "vulture" capitalism swipe on a Fox News interview Thursday, Perry did not disavow the attack outright but implied that his examination of Bain's record could help voters determine if Romney is a "flawed candidate" before the general election.

"The fact is, this process is about winnowing out individuals and testing whether or not they're a flawed candidate or not," he said. "And I will tell you when people can point to where you made a quick profit and kicked people out of their jobs, that is an issue that has got to be addressed."

LEXINGTON, SC -- Despite an onslaught of criticism from conservative commentators who have rushed to Mitt Romney's defense, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is not backing down on his attacks on Bain Capital's "get-rich-quick" schemes.

"The idea that you come in and destroy people's lives, the idea that you come in just to make a quick profit tear these companies apart," Perry told an audience of about 50 at Lizard's Thicket restaurant outside Columbia. "I understand restructuring, I understand these kind of things. But the idea that we can't criticize someone with these get-rich-quick schemes is not appropriate in my perspective."

Commentators from Rush Limbaugh to Sean Hannity have ripped into Perry and Newt Gingrich for their slams of Bain Capital's restructuring plans, calling the attacks "anti-capitalist" and comparing them to the language of Occupy Wall Street.

But Perry repeated his newly-minted phrase "vulture capitalism" three times at his first event of five campaign events today -- the day after Romney thundered to victory in the New Hampshire primary.

The Texas governor, who did not even muster 1% of the vote in last night's Granite State contest, tweaked the early nominating races in his appeal to South Carolinians.

"Who's South Carolina going to put forward? Iowa is a fine state. New Hampshire is an, uh, interesting place," he said to giggles from the crowd.

"But the fact of the matter is they winnow the field down. South Carolina is who picks presidents."

ANDERSON, SC -- Accusing front-runner Mitt Romney of causing painful layoffs in South Carolina during his leadership at a Boston private equity firm, Texas Gov. Rick Perry mocked the former Bain Capital CEO for claiming yesterday that he once feared losing his job.
  
"I have no doubt that Mitt Romney was worried about pink slips, whether he was going to have enough of them to hand out -- because his company Bain Capital and all the jobs that they killed," Perry said. "I'm sure he was worried that he would run out of pink slips." 

The Texas governor was referring to a comment Romney made in New Hampshire yesterday, when he said, "There were a couple of times I wondered whether I was going to get a pink slip.” But as the New York Times notes, his campaign could not cite specific examples of Romney almost getting a pink slip, although a spokesman said that “as a young person just out of college, [Romney] worked his way up the career ladder knowing that his continued employment was by no means guaranteed.” 
 
Perry -- who named a steel manufacturer in Georgetown, SC, and a photo album company in Gaffney that he says gutted jobs as a result of Bain's actions -- said that residents of those communities would be stunned by the remarks of "the son of a multi-millionaire." 
 
"There's something inherently wrong when getting rich off failure and sticking it to someone else is how you do your business. I happen to think that is indefensible," he told the breakfast crowd of about 75 at Mama Penn's restaurant here in Anderson. "If you're a victim of Bain Capital's downsizing, it's the ultimate insult for Mitt Romney to come to South Carolina and tell you he feels your pain. Because he caused it." 
 
The Texas governor continued to blast his rivals as a whole for being "insiders" chained to the DC status quo, although he did offer some complimentary words for Texas colleague Ron Paul when he asked if the famously anti-Fed congressman would make a good Federal Reserve chair. 
 
"Congressman Paul would be an ideal person to head up the Fed and put a little fear in their heart," he replied after chuckling that Paul would "probably scare all of those people to death." 
  
Perry, who hopes to score momentum from evangelicals in the Palmetto State, spoke at length about his faith, and joked that his identity as a Christian is fitting given his rocky moments as a candidate.
 
"God gives us what we can't give ourselves, and that's the gift of redemption," he said. "If you watch my debate performances, it's good to get a little bit of redemption every now and then. Get a second chance."

*** UPDATE *** Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul responds, "It is no surprise that, having spent nearly half a century in government between them, Speaker Gingrich and Gov. Perry have resorted to desperate attacks on a subject they don’t understand. We expect attacks on free enterprise from President Obama and his allies on the left – not from so-called ‘fiscal conservatives.’"

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- With a sense of history on the biggest political day -- to date -- of the 2012 cycle, Texas Gov. Rick Perry today compared the GOP's quest to defeat President Barack Obama to one of the deadliest battles of the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.

"This election is about stopping a president of the United States and his administration that is abusing the Constitution of this country, that is putting America on a track to bankruptcy," Perry told a hotel ballroom packed with more than 200 volunteers. 

"It is a powerful moment in Americans' history, and you are on the front lines," he added. "This is Concord. This is Omaha Beach. This is going up the hill realizing that the battle is worth winning."

Those supporters, who represent 32 states, descended on the Perry team's nerve center at the West Des Moines Sheraton after the Christmas holiday. About 500 of them will fan out to caucus sites today across the state to advocate for the Texas governor.

Introducing her husband, an emotional Anita Perry thanked supporters for their loyalty in a campaign most recently scarred by a Politico article rife with quotes from anonymous staff members who savaged their colleagues for the team's early disorganization.

While Perry has gained few endorsements since his famously devastating debate performance in Michigan back in November, several of his early backers have made the journey to frigid Iowa for the governor's final push.

South Carolina Rep. Mick Mulvaney, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal are among the allies on hand.

And they remain loyal -- and on  message.

"I will leave it to the pundits to look at polls and campaign staff," Jindal told NBC News. "To be honest with you, I didn't endorse Rick because of the polls. I didn't endorse Rick because of his campaign organization. I endorsed him because of his executive experience and his fiscal conservatism."

DES MOINES, IA -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry is reminding Iowa voters that Rick Santorum lost his last statewide contest by an embarrassing double-digit margin, as well as arguing that the former Pennsylvania senator lacks the national organization to win the GOP primary in 2012.

"His ... argument is 'I'm the guy that can win,'" Perry said of Santorum. "He got beat by 18 [percentage] points his last race. I mean this guy has proven that he can't win races when it matters against a liberal Democrat."

Perry, who himself has never lost an election, told NBC's Chuck Todd in an interview on MSNBC's "Daily Rundown" that Santorum would also be hurt by his past endorsement of party-switcher Arlen Specter.

"That's a movement conservative? I don't think so" Perry said.

The Texas governor argues that he is the only candidate who can compete with Mitt Romney and Ron Paul in a long nominating process.

"I'm the only one of the social conservatives and the fiscal conservatives that are running that actually has the ability to raise the money, to have the organization, to run though and finish the primary process," he said. "Santorum and Bachmann don't."

Perry said his resources will make him competitive in Nevada, Florida, and his home state of Texas.

"At the end of the day, we have the national organization and fundraising capabilities to run through this thing," he said. 

WASHINGTON, Iowa -- In his first targeted attack against the recently surging Rick Santorum, Rick Perry on Thursday labeled the former Pennsylvania senator a "prolific earmarker" who "loaded up on Pennsylvania pork" during his time in Congress.

Appearing at a coffee shop in Washington, IA, the Texas governor took direct aim at his rival's spending record less than 24 hours after a new TIME/CNN/ORC Iowa poll showed Santorum jumping into third place, with Perry stalled at fifth among GOP contenders.

"Rick Santorum is a friend," he said. "I've got great respect for him, but when he talks about fiscal conservativism every now and then it kinda leaves me scratching my head, because he was a prolific earmarker."

"You know I love Iowa pork but I hate Washington pork," Perry said to laughter from the crowd of about 50. "And Sen. Santorum, he loaded up his bills with Pennsylvania pork. And he even voted for the Alaska Bridge to Nowhere."

Perry then read a quote from a Santorum appearance on Fox News in February 2009 in which the former senator said "I'm very proud of all of my earmarks... I will defend earmarks."

"Senator Santorum I'm going to give you that opportunity to defend your earmarks," Perry added. "Because earmarks are the gateway drug to the spending problem that they have in Washington DC."

A radio ad echoing the same critique hit Iowa airwaves this morning, according to the campaign.

While Perry previously has lumped Santorum with other candidates whose tenure in Washington make them 'insiders," today's attack is the first shot directed squarely at him alone.

The news of Perry's continued idling in Iowa polls yesterday raises further questions about whether or not the Texas governor will push on to South Carolina after the caucuses.

Asked by a reporter today if there's any caucus night scenario in which Perry doesn't continue the race, he responded "Well that's God's will. There might be an outcome that He decides that I wouldn't go on"

"Is God caucusing?" came the followup.

Perry, smiling, replied, "I'm pretty sure He will be.

URBANDALE, Iowa -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday warned that President Obama's health reform law could result in the death of ill patients, relating the story of a cancer patient he met Tuesday at a campaign stop in Creston, Iowa.

"She came up to me and she said 'Governor, if you don't get rid of Obamacare, I'm dead," he recounted. "She said they will never take care of me. And that's a powerful testimony by that lady."

The governor, who won cheers for his promise to use an executive order to gut the law, though most of the health reform law's major components haven't gone into effect yet. Perry spoke to a packed house at the biweekly breakfast meeting of the Westside Conservative Club at the Machine Shed Restaurant in Urbandale.

Perry, a veteran who served in the United States Air Force, also unveiled a new swipe at Obama for failing to schedule a "simple parade" for soldiers returning from Iraq.

"It really disturbs me that nearly after 10 years of war that this president wouldn't welcome home those heroes with a simple parade," he said, briefly appearing to become emotional. "Maybe it's because this war is unpopular with the Democrats, I don't know. But Mr. President, our soldiers come first."

The Texas governor, who has been haunted by a memorable debate gaffe from the CNBC debate last month, found himself in a refreshing position at the start of the event: correcting someone else's oops.

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a top surrogate for Perry, especially on the issue of immigration, introduced the candidate at the breakfast meeting, beginning his remarks with a shout out to the "Buckeyes."

The home team for fans of the University of Iowa is the Hawkeyes; the Buckeyes are the mascot of Ohio State University. The crowd laughed and booed as Arpaio joked, "It's 3 o'clock Phoenix time."

Taking the microphone minutes later, Perry leapt in for the save, referencing another college team with dedicated fans in the state.

"Actually, there's probably some Cyclones in this crowd," he said, referencing Iowa State's team, after teasing Arpaio for the error.

AMES, IOWA -- The morning after Mitt Romney challenged Rick Perry to a $10,000 bet, the Texas governor slammed Romney's casual but pricey wager and suggested the sum is merely "pocket change" for his wealthy rival. 

"Having an extra ten thousand that you would throw down on a bet just seems very out of the ordinary," Perry told a New York Times reporter after a crowded event in an Ames diner. 

"I would suggest to you that ten thousand dollars is pocket change for Mitt," he added

The "pocket change" remark offered a sharp new nettle on Perry's earlier criticism of Romney in an interview with Fox News Sunday, in which he dubbed the former Massachusetts governor "a little out of touch with the normal Iowa citizen." .

Perry's comments came after he held a fire-marshall-capacity event at the Cafe Diem diner in Ames. An otherwise enthusiastic reception was marred by heckling after Perry left the stage, as protestors loudly yelled "why do you hate gay people so much?" and "go back to Texas!"  The governor ignored the comments as the crowd booed dissenters down. 

But the charge of anti-gay rhetoric offers a glimpse into the risks of Perry's explicit pitch to social conservatives in Iowa. The campaign has faced criticism for a recent ad that takes aim at gay soldiers serving openly in the United States military. 

After stumbling badly in early debates, Perry has dramatically steered his political pitch to one focused on values, Christian faith, and the current White House's "war on religion." 

The Tenth Amendment- defending governor, for example, promised on Sunday to fight for a constitutional amendment that "would allow our children to pray in school any time that they would like"

And Perry's faith-based message isn't just over the airwaves. 

Immediately after appearing on Fox, he ventured to Waukee megachurch Point of Grace, where he made an explicit plea for worshippers to get involved in the political process. 

"I happen to think that people of faith biblically are charged to go and be engaged in that debate," he said during one of two services he attended at the stadium-seating style prayer center. 

Perry's message to Christians: Look for a man with a "deep rudder" of values, not one with "all the answers." 

It's a humble message from a man whose flubs have dogged him since early in the campaign. Despite his potential upswing after Romney's damaging "bet," those mistakes continue to haunt the Texan governor. 

Perry, who last night offered one of the strongest debate performances of his presidential campaign, was asked Sunday morning in an interview to explain his recent bungling of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's name as well as the number of judges who sit on the high court. 

"Well, obviously, I know there are nine Supreme Court justices," he said on FOX. "I don't know how eight came out of my mouth. But the fact is, I can't tell you, I don't have memorized all of the Supreme Court judges." 

Asked about reports late Tuesday that campaign manager Rob Johnson and senior adviser Dave Carney had been demoted, GOP candidate Rick Perry said the rumors were "just scuttlebutt."

"News to me, I've talked to both of them within as a matter of fact the last 24 hours. So if they have, news to me."

"So I would suggest to you that's just scuttlebutt, highly technical Aggie term for 'not correct,'" he said.

Perry said that Joe Allbaugh, who joined the campaign last month, is "the make the trains run on time guy and does a fabulous job."

Asked if Allbaugh has taken on duties that were previously conducted by Carney or Johnson, Perry responded: "That's not in my purview. So I try to get out and be the best candidate I can be every day. And the best I can tell everybody's working hard and getting the work done."

"I'm a happy camper and that's a good thing," he said.

MANCHESTER, NH -- Rick Perry wants your vote, just as long as you're legally able to drink, too.

The Texas governor, speaking to students at St. Anselm College on Tuesday in Manchester, NH, asked for the young folks' vote, but seemed to forget that the national voting is 18 -- the age at which it's stood since 1971.

"Those of you that will be 21 by November the 12th, I ask for your support and your vote. Those of you who won't be, just work hard," Perry said.

The age flub wasn't the only one in Perry's pitch to the students; the general election is on Nov. 6, 2012, not Nov. 12.

Ironically, in 1971, the year the U.S. adopted the 26th amendment, establishing the voting age at 18-years-old, Rick Perry turned 21.

Michael O'Brien contributed.