Austin American-Statesman: Gov. Rick Perry today gave his strongest indication yet that he may run for president.
“I’m going to think about it” after the legislative session ends Monday, Perry said. He added, “But I think about a lot of things.”
For years, Perry has said that he would not run for president and that he had no interest in the job. He has often said that he has said no to the presidential question in as many ways as he could.
But he and his advisers have inched closer to saying he may run all week, following the announcement that Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels would not enter the GOP field. A couple of days ago, he told Greta Van Susteren on Fox News that a run was tempting.
Many conservatives have called on Perry to enter a field which could have room for a social and fiscal conservative with Perry’s energy and charisma. And, intentionally or not, the governor has set himself up for a run over the last couple of years, making a Texas/Washington contrast the focus of his 2010 re-election and writing a book called “Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America From Washington. [MORE]I think Rick Perry getting into the 2012 would sure make things exciting. He would certainly outshine all of the establishment bore snores. I can almost see Perry calling out Mitt Romney on his crazy mixed and muddled message on healthcare reform.
I can also see Rick Perry causing trouble for conservatives like Palin and Cain. Perry is every bit as charming, charismatic and dynamic as Palin and Cain. Plus his three terms as governor from a state leading is job creation certainly trumps both their records.
The downside for Perry would be winning the general election. It would be all to easy for the left to come up with themes of Perry as the crazed Texas cowboy secessionist (given Washington's extremely poor performance of late, secession may not be the crazy idea it use to be). Granted, the left tried this theme with George W. Bush and it went no where, but in 2012 Obama needs distractions and Perry's secession stuff might be too much of a distraction.
At any rate, I say Rick Perry should jump in just to bring some much needed excitement to a thus far dull election.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: Austin American-Statesman