Rick Perry firing a six shooter at a promotional event in 2010. (Photo: Getty)

TAMPA, FL -- Former presidential candidate and Governor of Texas Rick Perry is quite possibly carrying a weapon on the streets of Tampa as he attends the Republican National Convention. We spotted Mr. Perry a few moments ago walking into the CNN Grill, which the cable network set up to provide politicians and journalists a place to mingle and unwind during the RNC festivities. Since he has a well-documented "long love affair" with firearms Politicker asked Mr. Perry whether he was "packing" at the RNC.

"You never know, that's why they call it a concealed weapon," Mr. Perry said with a chuckle and a pat on his hip as he made his way into the Grill.

Though there is an extensive list of banned items in the secure "event zone" surrounding the RNC, concealed weapons are not being prohibited in downtown Tampa during the convention. For security reasons, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn wanted to temporarily ban guns in downtown Tampa for the duration of the RNC festivities, but he was overridden by Florida governor Rick Scott. Though Mr. Perry will be able to pack heat at all of the RNC parties and events in downtown Tampa, guns are not allowed within the security perimeter surrounding the convention floor itself.

Rick Perry (Getty)

Texas governor and former presidential candidate Rick Perry sat down for a video interview with National Review Online last week and he discussed his reasons for opposing gay marriage. Mr. Perry addressed the topic when he was asked about voters who admired his economic policies, but wished he would "just back off on the social issues." He answered by explaining that he thinks, though society may be becoming gay friendly, God's stance on same-sex marriage is quite clear.

"The issue of traditional marriage is one that continues to bubble forward and I happen to believe that, if you're going to have a society that is successful economically or otherwise, you're going to have to have values that you attach that society to. For 2,000 years we have had marriage between a man and a woman," said Mr. Perry. "I suspect that issue's not going to go away, but just because you share a different view or you are flexible on the issue does not mean that God has changed his mind about it."

Mr. Perry acknowledged that his views on gay marriage and abortion might earn him some detractors, but he refuses to "back away" from his position on those issues.

"If you're going to base your public service upon your values, then you're going to get criticized by those who don't agree with those values. I don't back away from my positions on traditional marriage, on abortion," Mr. Perry said. "They're values that, from my perspective, they can't be equivocated. You're either for traditional marriage or you're not. You're either for protecting innocent life or you're not."

Watch a clip of Mr. Perry talking about gay marriage below.

Eliot Spitzer (Photo: Getty)

Former Governor Eliot Spitzer lost his job as a CNN host in last July, but apparently he still has money to burn. Since September, Mr. Spitzer has given donations to campaign committees for Councilman Mark Weprin, Michigan Congressman Sander Levin and Texas legislator Joaquin Castro. 

On September 20, Mr. Spitzer gave $1,000 to Mr. Levin and $500 to Mr. Castro. He gave another $1,000 to the "Friends of Mark Weprin 2013" campaign committee on December 10. All three beneficiaries of Mr. Spitzer's largesse are Democrats.

Mr. Spitzer left politics after he was busted patronizing prostitutes in 2008. Before he was caught spending money on sex, Mr. Spitzer was a prolific political donor. He made more than 100 donations at the local and federal level between 1998 and 2008.

After his scandalous resignation, Mr. Spitzer made just five donations between July 2008 and May 2009 giving a total of $5,000 to committees supporting Cy Vance Jr.'s campaign for Manhattan District attorney, Mark Green's unsuccessful bid to become public advocate, Pat O'Dwyer's run for Orange County Executive and the Educational Leadership PAC. Mr. Spitzer did not make any political donations between May 2009 and last September.

Bill Clinton at the IAFF conference in Manahttan on August 15, 2011. (photo credit: azi paybarah / observer)

Bill Clinton said newly announced presidential candidate, Republican Governor Rick of Texas was a "good-looking rascal" whose railings against the federal government were nonsense.

Speaking at a fire fighter's conference in midtown Manhattan this morning, Clinton said, "I got tickled by watching Governor Perry announce for governor, for president. He's a good looking rascal."

The audience -- members of the International Association of Fire Fighters from across the United States and Canada -- laughed.

Clinton, dressed in a dark suit and gray tie, continued his riff on Perry -- who officially announced his presidential campaign on Saturday.

"And he's saying 'Oh, I'm going to Washington to make sure that the federal government stays as far away from you as possible --while I ride on Air Force One and that Marine One helicopter and go to Camp David and travel around the world and have a good time.' I mean, this is crazy."