Texas Gov. Rick Perry's Name Gains Traction for GOP Nod

If not Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, if not former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, if not real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump, how about Texas Gov. Rick Perry for president? The three-term Republican governor’s name has been gaining attention as a possible entrant in the Republican presidential nominating race, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry

“Daniels’ decision, coupled with Huckabee’s and Newt’s implosion, will create a tornado-size draft for Rick Perry,” Mark McKinnon, a GOP media consultant who worked with President George W. Bush, told the newspaper. “He’s tanned, rested and got nothing else to do for the next two years.”

Matt Dowd, who handled polling for Bush’s campaign, made a similar prediction. “I actually think that Governor Perry in Texas is probably going to reconsider,” Dowd said.

In addition, Rush Limbaugh has been talking up Perry on his radio program.

Even so, some point to the fact that close advisrrs Dave Carney and Rob Johnson, who managed Perry’s 2010 race, are committed to Gingrich as a clear sign that he won’t run.

“Could he do it?” said Todd Olsen, a Texas Republican consultant. “Yes, but don’t think he wants to. Carney and Johnson going over to Newt is the surest sign Perry’s not running for anything but governor of Texas.”