Rick Perry 2012? Texas Governor Says He'll Consider Running For President [UPDATED]

This post has been updated.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the longest serving chief executive in the state's history and a politician who has never lost an election, said Friday he will consider seeking the Republican nomination for president.

The outspoken conservative, who for months said he wasn't interesting in running for the White House, said he will consider entering the race after the Texas Legislature adjourns Monday.

"I'm going to think about it," Perry said. "I think about a lot of things."

It was a stark reversal from his previous insistence that he would not seek the presidency, and one that could shake-up the GOP race. Perry would enter with unquestioned conservative bona fides and a proven fundraising record, adding a fresh voice to field narrowed by the decisions of Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels not to run.

However, National Journal reports:

Shortly after reports surfaced suggesting that Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is considering a potential presidential bid in 2012, his spokesman said he's not.

"Nothing has changed," Mark Miner told National Journal in an e-mail. "The governor has no intention of running for president."

Perry has been the center of a presidential buzz during the past week, kicked up as many Republicans lamented the remaining slate of candidates vying for the opportunity to challenge President Barack Obama. The talk increased last week after his speech to Republican insiders in Dallas won rave reviews. Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh spent 20 minutes on his talk show a few days later espousing Perry's appeal as a candidate.

When asked about the race before Friday, Perry had said repeatedly he was focused on the state's legislative session and not the 2012 race. He reiterated Friday that his focus is on Texas, but answered with a swift "yes sir" when asked if he would consider running for president once the session was over.

"There is a huge opening (in) the Republican presidential primary for someone with strong credentials with the tea party and social conservatives," said Mark McKinnon, a longtime political consultant and former George W. Bush political adviser. "Rick Perry has great credentials with both, he's the longest serving governor in Texas history and is about to finish what conservatives will view as a very successful legislative session because he balanced the budget through spending cuts.

"The only real question is: Why wouldn't he run?"

Perry has been a darling of the tea party and could ignite a groundswell of support among the libertarian-leaning, anti-tax movement. He was an early endorser of the groups that helped Republicans take control of the U.S. House, statehouses and governors' offices in 2010.

The loosely organized tea party movement hasn't yet gelled around a candidate, despite efforts from declared candidates Tim Pawlenty and Newt Gingrich to win them over.

"The candidates that are running are not the candidates that people want," said Ryan Hecker, organizer of the Contract From America and member of the Houston Tea Party Society. "They're looking for someone, almost wistfully."

Perry, Hecker said, "would be an excellent addition to the field."

 

 

Comments

[unodiabloone]

12:45 AM on 06/03/2011

Texas was able to balance its budget this week without raising taxes. Unemployment is at 7.7% here. So what is it in the rest of the USA? We have a rainy day fund with a 9 billion balance. Some of that was used to settle this years budget deficit. US Census shows an 18.8% increase in population here in last 10 years. People are moving here for a reason. Texas has seen an increase in the number of Fortune 500 companies. See its the lower taxes that has brought the companies that brought the jobs that made people want to move here. Housing is up and foreclosures are down. CNBC ranked Texas as one of 5 states that will lead our country out of this recession. Not everything he does may meet your agenda but overal he has been good for Texas, Must be why we keep voting him back into office.

[Greg Petty]

04:57 PM on 06/22/2011

He can not in any stretch of the imagination,win the White House.................

[unodiabloone]

11:19 AM on 06/23/2011

well thats up to the people to decide but you are entitled to your opinion just like everyone else. so time will tell

[opinioned1]

12:40 PM on 05/31/2011

Sure makes things easy--

Perry GOP bumper sticker

"Vote for me I`ll SECEDE"

[unodiabloone]

01:24 AM on 06/03/2011

Our federal government has passed legislation that exceeds its authority. This is what he has a problem with and thus the push to have Washington understand where our state stands on this issue. So I guess your okay with the federal government exceeding its authority? So listening to your conversations and reading your emails are okay than? How about the right to shut down the internet? Or control its content? are you willing to give this up? This is in the works so will you stand up for your rights against an overreaching federal government? Or stand aside and let them take away our rights one by one?

[ranking file]

08:05 PM on 05/30/2011

Oh Good Lord. I hope he does run. A national campaign would instantly burn his backside as all his follies as governor, from secession talk to his UT and TAMU Board of Regents appointments to his ties with Jeffy and Jakie Sandefer to his attacks on education, would be exposed to the light for all to see.

[Greg Petty]

04:58 PM on 06/22/2011

Perry if he does not succeed ,he will secede

[Deaconess]

05:44 PM on 05/30/2011

Perry and the Tea Party have pushed for the deepest cuts in the nation while paying special attention to the need for tax relief among luxury yacht owners. The Texas House proposed spending cuts to public schools, already among the nation's most poorly funded. Huge cuts to Medicaid could push an estimated $60,000 senior citizens out of nursing homes. We are already ranked as fiftieth in per capita spending. What else can we do to bleed the state? Perry meanwhile seizes every opportunity to gut social spending, pander to the culture-warriors and enrich his high rolling corporate sponsors. Besides Perry "engineered" this budget shortage with his 2006 massive tax swap, slashing property taxes and replacing then with a modest business tax. It makes little sense that for all of Texas' abundant wealth and corporate bling, the state would rank 38th in per student spending, 45th in SAT scores, third in teen pregnancies and dead last in the percentage of adults with high school diplomas. Think of Texas as being like America's Ireland---once praised as a model for economic growth, conservatives loved it for its pro-business. anti tax etc--til it blew up. You would think that material affluence might lead to greater equality and decency and freedom---less hunger, less misery, less privation---but instead the gulf between the richest and poorest has grown wider and the policies that support such inequalities buttressed. Modern conservatism ever searches for justification for its greed. Perry for President, indeed.

[Cholie]

09:44 AM on 06/21/2011

Your disdain for capitalism, which is the foundation of the very lifestyle that you are privileged to have, and personal responsibility is gross.

[Deaconess]

04:07 PM on 06/21/2011

You are right. I do have disdain for unfettered capitalism---when it is only a ticket for white collar crime and exploitation of people and the environment. As far as my privileged lifestyle, I honor my God, our great Democracy, our founding fathers, past great public servants, the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers, and my own grace, intelligence, education and hard work. Capitalism is but a part of it. I am also very heartened by the new types of groups which are forming which are worker owned and socially and environmentally responsible.

[BJS501]

09:13 AM on 05/30/2011

Old white men from Texas haven't exactly made the GOP popular in the last couple of decades.

[MarkInTexas]

11:55 AM on 05/29/2011

All hat, no cattle.

[Greg Petty]

12:42 AM on 06/21/2011

All Bullshi# ,no horns,a raving ,idiotic, scatterbrained,moron, Run Rick Run,You will get the butt kicking of your life

[Blitzschnell]

11:40 AM on 05/29/2011

Texas Governor Perry
Has views that are quite scary
His principal care
Is the state of his hair
Of him we ought to be wary

[John Roman]

11:38 AM on 05/29/2011

This could only happen in America: A governor who quit her elected position as governor wants to be president, another governor who is presiding over one of the worst state economies with one of the most medieval education and penal systems wants to be president and a congressman who was sanctioned by congress and divorced 3 times wants to be president - and ALL of them are hugely supported by their republican bases. Only in America...or Mexico.....

[newamericanliberal]

11:03 AM on 05/29/2011

Just for fun, y'all............here is Rick Perry in a nutshell. (really, I mean he is a nut in a shell)
1. When visiting Israel....Quote from Wiki..."I'm a big believer that this country was given to the people of Israel a long time ago, by God, and that's ordained.
2. He does not believe there is valid scientific proof of anthropogenic global warming. He has said several times that there is no scientific consensus on the issue.
3. Willingham put to death for arson, which later was proven to be false, Rick Perry scoffed at the scientific evidence by several forensic independent reports and maneuvered a hearing to be cancelled, indefinitely
4. In April 2009, Perry endorsed a resolution supporting state sovereignty.
5. On April 21st, Perry proclaimed a three-day period, from Friday to Sunday (coinciding with Easter), as Days of Prayer for Rain in the state

I am sure you can find more. Ya. This is what we want in the WH.

NAL

[GeorgeKLemon]

04:21 AM on 05/29/2011

"unquestioned conservative bona fides"??? Rick Perry was Dukakis' campaign chairman in Texas in 1984. He was Al Gore's in 1988. He sat out -- and fought against -- the Reagan Revolution. If a chameleon raped a cockroach, the product would be Rick Perry. He became a Republican when the votes were there. He's become a Tea Partier because he sees the votes on the right. He has never had a non-government jon, has no real philosophy, no real virtues, and will say or do whatever it takes to stay elected. Since becoming Governor, he's increased the state's budget by 70% and runs an administration filled with corruption. As a Republican, I am disgusted by Rick Perry. He's a showman and a political chameleon -- I am not impressed.

[ranking file]

08:07 PM on 05/30/2011

You should live in Texas. Then you'd see the man's true folly.

[msblynne]

01:06 AM on 05/29/2011

John Tyler(snake), the 10th president, was around in 1861- he was a traitor to his country, the only president to be a traitor- when he joined the Virginia Convention and supported secession. Why is this relevant? Mr. Perry wants to be the first president to secede while still in office. "Avaunt! and quit my sight!" Traitor!

[unodiabloone]

01:34 AM on 06/03/2011

oh the secession arguement again. Our federal government has passed legislation that exceeds its authority. This is what he has a problem with. So are you okay with them going beyond the power given to them in the constitution? So are you okay with them listening to your conversations or reading your emails? How about control over the internet and even able to shut it down if they see fit. Its content? They have a bill that will change this as well. Are you going to stand for this as well? The patriot act already lets them in on conversations will the bill over the internet control be okay with you?

[msblynne]

01:45 AM on 06/03/2011

yes. The secession argument again. Not the Patriot Act argument, the secession argument. Nice try changing the subject. If you disagree with a law, you challenge it through legal, constitutional means. Secession is so failed 1860s of a way to challenge anything, this was litigated, secession is illegal and immoral. Worse, perhaps: It's just dumb.

[msblynne]

09:18 AM on 06/06/2011

“In that year, acting upon the theory that the rights of a State under the Constitution might be renounced, and her obligations thrown off at pleasure, Texas undertook to sever the bond thus formed, and to break up her constitutional relations with the United States… When Texas became one of the United States, she entered into an indissoluble relation. The union between Texas and the other States was as complete, as perpetual, and as indissoluble as the union between the original States. There was no place for reconsideration or revocation, except through revolution or through consent of the States.”

By "consent of the states" they meant consent of ALL the states. Today all 50 would have to agree.
"Revolution" is the wholesale overthrow and replacement of the national government with an entirely new government.
Secession is clearly NOT a “revolution” -- ”Considered as transactions under the Constitution, the ordinance of secession, adopted by the convention, and ratified by a majority of the citizens of Texas, and all the acts of her legislature intended to give effect to that ordinance, were absolutely null. They were utterly without operation in law. The State did not cease to be a State, nor her citizens to be citizens of the Union.” ( Texas v. White (1969) 74 US 700) Secession is NOT revolution because the national government still functions as always- the fake government just coexists. Perry's attempt to "secede" and create a co-existing fake government nowadays will likewise fail.

[Blackorpheus]

11:00 PM on 05/28/2011

Just how many Ricks and Scotts are running for Prez on the Teabagger side?

[Greg Petty]

12:46 AM on 06/21/2011

2 to many , He would try to rewrite the Constitution or his version, He i9sthe absolute worst Governor in this states history,A moron,with a messianic complex, He makes Bush look like Steven Hawking,What a disaster , He will fail miserably outside of Texas, Rick, The other states are just not into you!!!!!!!!!!

[thebigbike]

10:37 PM on 05/28/2011

RickyBob has got better hair and a smaller nose, but otherwise, in that picture above the story, he sure looks like John Kerry at the Dem Convention in 2004

[mcmutter]

10:22 PM on 05/28/2011

TexAss ......

45th in education in the usa

go ahead Rick ..... brag a little .....

[Skydave]

05:19 PM on 05/30/2011

And he was so against the government and the stimulus money, but boy did he want government money when they had the wild fires. I am so tired of these hypocritical GOP/Teabaggers that were against the stimulus money but are first in line to collect money, then return to their states and brag about the money they are bringing home.

[unodiabloone]

12:55 AM on 06/03/2011

He was against the stimulus because he felt it was the wrong move. Our state is one of the largest not just in size but also in revenue. We pay out a lot to the federal government in taxes and it is only right that a portion of it is returned to the state to be used by its citizens. Our federal government has passed legislation that exceeds its athourity and that is one he has issue with. So how many states in this country have a balanced budget this year? Ours does. How many states have a 9 billion rainy day fund? Ours does. Unemployment at 7.7% What is the rest of the USA at? Must be doing something right here we now have more Fortune 500 companies and housing is up and foreclosures are down. How is looking over where you live?

[FriscoDem]

10:42 AM on 06/01/2011

Yeah but you are talking to a following of people who think education beyond the 5th grade is being an elitist :)

[unodiabloone]

01:07 AM on 06/03/2011

So if thats the case than why are my brothers 6 children all with A averages? Reading in several grades above their class level? Above the national average in all areas in school. Must be a fluke right? This is in public school so something must be going right here.

[Mercedes]

09:33 PM on 05/28/2011

Rick Perry for President? Surely you Jest! Let me tell you a few things about the Governor of Texas. He's been here since 2000 and hasn't done much except give his Rich Buddies the best 'sweetheart' deals and the rest of us the Shaft. He put this state in $27 BILLION debt because in 2006 he decided to Lower Property Taxes and start a Small Business Tax that would replace the lost revenue for the state. That worked: NOT! Perry COULD remedy the situation of having to cut back on Medicaid, Education, and Small Business growth, by RAISING Taxes just 1 or 2 percent on the Rich--but NO, can't do that, can he. He doesn't give a damn how many teachers are going to lose their jobs, how many young people won't have a good education, how many old people on Medicaid will get dumped out of Nursing Homes and end up on the streets. NOPE, he's got to make sure his Rich buddies and Big Business friends don't have to pay a Dime for the rest of the state. Just remember this if you think this goober is worth voting for. I sure didn't vote for him last year, I voted for the Candidate that would have made sure we didn't end up like this: Bill White. If he had won, Texas wouldn't be looked upon as a state full of Ignorant Backwoods Poor Idi0ts who voted for a goober Guv...

[unodiabloone]

01:53 AM on 06/03/2011

So the lower property taxes didn't have a positive effect on our state? Realy? I have lived here off and on all my life and after my job had me in Florida recently I saw what real housing problems that face this nation. Unemployment problems in Florida were awful. But in Texas unemployment is at 7.7% Florida is at 10.4%. Texas has seen an increase in the number of Fortune 500 companies as well. Which has meant more jobs here. CNBC ranked Texas as one of 5 states that will lead our country out of this recession. Oh and we have a balanced budget this year as well with a combination of budget cuts and some money from our rainy day fund. I don't know what group you run with or talk to but the people I know and talk to don't see Texas in this light. As far as our education system here my brothers 6 children all have straight A's and are above the national average in all areas. Reading above their grade level. I guess the majority of us Texans are happy with Governer Perry that we elected him again to another term. He must be doing something right if the majority thinks highly enough to re-elect him AGAIN