Texas governor sets out his stall

Published on Tuesday 9 August 2011 16:15

Conservative Texas governor Rick Perry appears poised to enter the race for the Republican presidential nomination, a move certain to shake up the contest.

Mr Perry, an evangelical Christian, holds the role that former president George W Bush did before he ran for the top office and could present a credible conservative challenge to current front-runner Mitt Romney.

Mr Romney has for months led the Republican field in polls and money while half-a-dozen candidates have fought to emerge as his main challenger.

Yet the conservatives who dominate the Republican nominating process still view Mr Romney with suspicion, because of his Mormon faith and his shifting positions on social issues since he served as governor of the staunchly Democrat state of Massachusetts.

The Republican electorate has made clear in polls that it wants more choices - including perhaps a conservative, like Mr Perry, who is strong on both economic and social issues.

Republican officials close to Mr Perry said it is all but certain the governor will run.

Fuelling speculation that he will take a shot at the nomination, Mr Perry plans to visit at least two crucial early primary states, South Carolina and New Hampshire, on Saturday at the same time most of his would-be opponents are competing in an important test vote in Iowa.

The straw poll in Ames, Iowa, tests strength among Republican candidates in the state, whose caucuses in February will be the first election contest of the 2012 campaign.

Mr Perry is not on the ballot as he was not an announced candidate when the contest was organised. Tea Party conservative candidate Michele Bachmann is leading the Iowa polls.

Mr Perry's allies argue that he provides the full package for those in the party looking to take down Mr Romney. They say Mr Perry is both credible on social issues and strong on economic issues, given Texas' recent job growth, and could provide a strong contrast to Mr Romney, a former business executive with a jobs message but who has reversed positions on some issues social conservatives hold dear.

Unlike Mr Romney, however, Mr Perry lacks national campaign experience and name recognition, and nobody knows how his conservative views will play with moderate voters.

His record as governor also is subject to debate, with critics noting that the state has in reality added many low-paying jobs and faces funding problems in education and social services.

Mr Perry staged a day of prayer in Houston on Saturday, The Response, urging thousands to pray for Democrat president Barack Obama and bolstering his image with the Christian right.

Mr Perry is the longest-serving governor in Texas history, taking over from George W Bush after his 2000 presidential win.

At a time of economic turmoil across the country, Mr Perry need only point to his home state: The Texas jobless rate was 7.7 per cent in April, a sizable improvement over the national rate of 9.1 per cent.

Louisiana pollster Bernie Pinsonat said Mr Perry's credentials as an outspoken Christian will help him in the South.

He said: "The South is looking for a candidate and Perry is the only real one. All the other candidates have limitations. If you can come up with a solid South, you're a major player."