CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Making his long-anticipated debut in national politics, Texas Gov. Rick Perry jumped into the 2012 presidential race Saturday, assailing President Barack Obama for "downgrading" America on a variety of fronts and for pursuing policies that have propelled the nation into an "economic disaster."
As his wife, Anita, and their two grown children watched from the front row, Perry drew three standing ovations from a packed crowd of several hundred as he unveiled his presidential plans at a conservative gathering.With polls showing him in the upper tier of the Republican field, Perry's announcement instantly shook up the race for the GOP nomination and, at least for the moment, put him among the leading contenders."It is time to get America working again," Perry said in a line that is likely to be a central theme of his campaign. "That's why, with the support of my family, and an unwavering belief in the goodness of America, I declare to you today my candidacy for president of the United States."Shortly after his announcement, Perry and his campaign entourage headed to New Hampshire for a reception hosted by state House Deputy Speaker Pamela Tucker of Greenland. He then goes to Iowa to speak at a major Republican dinner in Waterloo tonight and to address voters Monday at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines.The opening appearances in his presidential bid put him in three early-contest states that are crucial for helping candidates build momentum as they march through the long progression of primaries and caucuses to gather delegate strength for the nomination.South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley complimented Perry for a "brilliant" strategy to announce his candidacy Saturday in South Carolina, a move that upstaged a straw poll of other Republican candidates in Ames, Iowa.In his 22-minute address at a RedState Gathering, Perry recalled his boyhood as the son of West Texas tenant farmers and cited the decade of job creation and fiscal restraint he has overseen as Texas' longest-serving governor. Much of the message reflected familiar anti-Washington themes that have laced earlier speeches, but he toughened his tone toward Obama as he called for new leadership to confront the nation's problems."The fact is for nearly three years, President Obama has been downgrading American jobs, downgrading our standing in the world, downgrading our financial stability, downgrading confidence and downgrading the hope of a better future for our children," Perry said, alluding to Standard & Poor's recent downgrade of the U.S. credit rating.Obama's campaign responded that Perry represents the Republican status quo and said the governor's priorities are protecting oil companies and tax breaks for the wealthy.Perry repeatedly signaled that job creation would be a hallmark of his administration in Washington, just as it has been in Texas. In the past two years, Texas has accounted for more than 40 percent of the job growth, although it constitutes only 10 percent of the population, Perry said."One in 6 work-eligible Americans cannot find a full-time job," Perry said. "That is not a recovery. That is an economic disaster. Mr. President, you can't win the future by selling it off to foreign creditors."Perry said that as president, he would immediately push to repeal Obama's healthcare program. He also promised to attack federal spending and would "work every day to make Washington, D.C., as inconsequential in your lives as I can.""It is time for Americans to believe again, to believe that the promise of our future is far greater than even the best days of our past," Perry said. "It is time to believe again in the potential of private enterprise, set free from the shackles of an overbearing federal government. And it is time to truly restore our standing in the world and renew our faith in freedom as the best hope of peace in a world beset with strife."Perry's family joined him onstage after he concluded the address.Second Texan in raceThe 61-year-old governor follows U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson as the second Texan to seek the GOP nomination.Polls have placed Perry toward the top among Republican contenders since he began emerging as a likely candidate, but he faces a barrage of scrutiny from the media and ramped-up opposition from competitors now that he is officially in the race.Perry's candidacy followed weeks of behind-the-scenes preparations as he and his campaign team sought to build a nationwide organization and reach out to fundraisers to make sure that he could go the distance in a campaign that could cost well over $100 million.Although his decisive re-election victory in 2010 and increased visibility as a national conservative leader fueled speculation that he was a potential 2012 contender, Perry spent months denying any interest in the race. He reversed course near the end of this year's legislative session when he told reporters that would "think about" running.Perry has cited his wife as a decisive influence in nudging him toward a run for the White House. The first lady, a nurse, told her husband to consider getting out of his "comfort zone" as governor to tackle national problems.Perry, a native of Paint Creek, a small farming community about 50 miles from Abilene in West Texas, offers a Marlboro Man Texas-style persona, with his rugged good looks and a Washington-bashing message that reflects the prevailing conservative mood in his home state. He also enters the race with strong appeal to Tea Party activists who helped fuel state and national Republican victories in 2010.Texas fatigue?Perry is seeking to be the fourth president associated with Texas, after Republicans George W. Bush and his father, George H.W. Bush, and Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson, who became president after the Kennedy assassination and went on to serve a full four-year term before backing away from a re-election bid during the Vietnam War.The prospect of "Texas fatigue" could be a liability for Perry, whose candidacy comes less than three years after George W. Bush left office. Perry, who was lieutenant governor, became governor in December 2000 after Bush became president, but the two have had their political differences. Several of Bush's key operatives backed U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in her primary challenge against Perry in 2010.Perry has never lost an election since entering public service as a legislator from West Texas in 1985. He served three terms in the Legislature as a Democrat before switching parties to run for agriculture commissioner.Dave Montgomery is the Star-Telegram's Austin bureau chief. 512-476-4294If it were Perry vs. Obama for president in 2012, for whom would you vote?
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