Perry: Evolution a 'Theory With Gaps'

Evolution has joined global warming on the list of things Rick Perry is skeptical about. Evolution is "a theory that's out there—and it's got some gaps in it," the Texas governor told a little boy during a campaign stop in New Hampshire yesterday, the Huffington Post reports. "In Texas, we teach both creationism and evolution," he said. "I figure you're smart enough to figure out which one is right." Creationism isn't actually on the curriculum in Texas, but teachers are allowed to discuss it, the Texas Tribune notes.

"How old do I think the earth is? You know what, I don't have any idea," Perry said in response to a question from the boy. "I know it's pretty old so it goes back a long, long way. I'm not sure anybody actually knows completely and absolutely how long, how old the earth is." GOP rival Jon Huntsman saw his number of Twitter followers surge after he tweeted: "To be clear, I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy," AP reports. (More Jon Huntsman 2012 stories.)