Report: Perry will run for president

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- When asked if he'll run for the White House, Texas Governor Rick Perry has said, "No," then "thinking about it," and now comes a report that the answer will be "Yes."

Governor Perry has said repeatedly that he has no desire for the presidency, but now the Wall Street Journal says he has already made up his mind.

The rumor that Perry will run for president is gaining steam. With speaking engagements in New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans, many say he is starting to look like a candidate for national office. However, Perry's camp says not so fast.

But the Wall Street Journal is reporting otherwise. A Republican source in Texas reportedly told the WSJ that Perry has decided to run for president and will announce in August. That announcement, according to the source, could come right around the time of the national prayer meeting that Perry is hosting in Houston on August 6.

"The Iowa straw poll is the next week, so the next six weeks are going to be the tale of what happens here. Either he's in August 6 or it's not going to happen. There's really not enough time to pass on the race in August and get back in; in September, October, given what you've got to do to get started in Iowa," said KTRK Political Consultant Dr. Richard Murray.

He says Perry is gaining momentum by endearing himself to Tea Party conservatives and established himself as the anti-Mitt Romney, the apparent frontrunner. Perry fired up the audience when he spoke at the Republican Leadership Conference this past Saturday, capping a week of national exposure.

"Americans voted for hope and got nothing but greater economic misery," said Perry at the RLC.

Yet Perry's camp is downplaying the Wall Street Journal's report. A Perry spokesman told us tonight, "Governor Perry hasn't made up his mind. No decision has been made. Any reports that say a decision has been made are inaccurate."

Perry's campaign adviser reportedly said the governor has to do a "gut check" to determine if he's ready for the rigors of a presidential run.

Interestingly enough, Perry has been sounding very much like a presidential candidate, traveling the country, touting his thoughts. Today he was back in Texas, in San Antonio, talking to the Convention of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Perry says he takes pride in appointing the first Hispanic woman to serve as secretary of state, and appointing women to both of the state's highest courts. But several Democratic Hispanic leaders spoke before Perry and denounced some of his policies, including a requirement for tougher enforcement of immigration laws.

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rick perry, politics, andy cerota

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