It’s a perennial rumor that refuses to go away, and now Real Clear Politics is fanning the flames of speculation citing three unnamed sources who say Texas Governor Rick Perry’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination is gathering momentum.
A Texas pol who is close to Perry has been telling a few key strategists that the nation's longest-serving governor sees a vacuum and is waiting to be summoned into the race. This source believes that could happen by late summer. …. According to another well-connected Republican, at least one Perry confidant has been very quietly making inquiries about the political terrain in the nation's first voting state of Iowa. A third Perry associate, RCP has learned, has been heralding a small contingent of Iowans with the time-tested line that is often used by would-be candidates who are leaving their options open: "Keep your powder dry."
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was considered a potential heavyweight in a race for the Republican presidential nomination, but he says he won’t run in 2012. Meanwhile, the candidacy of another well-known conservative, Newt Gingrich, has stumbled out of the gate with his attack on the budget plan of Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin).
As Los Angeles Times political commentator Andrew Malcolm points out, Perry is the longest serving chief executive in the country in an area gaining most of the reapportioned electoral votes.
In terms of taxes, spending, job creation, business attitude, experience and state's rights, Perry's just about as stark a contrast to the White House Democrat as can be imagined. Even their book titles: Obama's "Dreams of My Father" vs Perry's "Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington."
Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent says Perry has access to high-dollar donors he would need to mount a credible campaign.
And while there’s no guarantee that he would inherit the Bush network in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other early states, as well as the national Republican network, he would almost certainly have a bit more of a head start than any other late entrant.