When's Perry Gonna Decide? Dunno.

By Robert Wilonsky Wed., Jul. 13 2011 at 9:14 AM

Rick Perry, Stephen Broden, Sarah Palin and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott at the Majestic last fall

Gov. Rick Perry will be in Denton this week, according to his office, at which time he certainly will not address if and when he's going to announce whether he's running for the White House. And so, the day after the governor met with former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in Austin, it's left to Politico to ask: What in the hell is taking him so long? Because he and his people are certainly talking to all the right people about jumping in the race. But there's also no deadline -- except, maybe, Labor Day at the latest, says his chief strategist, Dave Carney. Maybe.

Maybe Perry's waiting to see if there's enough money out there. Or maybe that doesn't matter. Or maybe he's waiting to see if he'll get the support of folks like Haley Barbour and Rudy Giuliani. Or maybe that doesn't matter. Or perhaps he's waiting for a sign from above. Or maybe he's worried he waited too long.

Perry doesn't have a Mitch Daniels problem. The Texan's wife, Anita, is enthusiastic about a run, according to multiple sources. If he were to opt out it would be more for reasons along the lines of why Barbour decided not to pull the trigger -- a lack of total commitment and more practical concern about whether it's feasible at this relatively late stage in the process.

"Is there the time available and is real money still available?" asked Carney, explaining their assessment. "It's not very wise to just say, 'Hey, lemme get in the race' and just jump and not have an idea if there is the political support, the financial support. It's a matter of trying to make a prudent decision."

Read the whole thing here.

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StopUSA

Forget it--Perry: you are a typical political lifer and talk with a forked tongue that's got your soul's destiny a one-way ticket with illegals aka La Raza=666=The Race ills; Jihadistas...and other unconscionable deceptive EVIL!

Deep_Sigh

He'll decide after The Response....not the prayer event, the court decision on the lawsuit that was just filed against "The Response"

Darryl

Please run, (p)Rick! Then you have to resign and we can have anybody else as governor. Plus, you can't win. You don't have a national appeal.

LaceyB

just tell me when voting day is...so I can check the box for his opponent.

MattL1

I have it on fairly unreliable information that he's announcing the day after the prayer thing.

Juan Valdez

Im scared of guys with hair fetish. He reminds me of John Edwards. Im sure he's hidding some secret underneath that fluffy salon hair.

Lee

I am torn between hoping he might get out of Texas and the more patriotic position that we should save the rest of the country from Rick Perry by keeping him here. What a dilemma!

Mike

I think he is doing a Donald Trump. He likes the attention, but he is smart enough to know how much work really running for President is. I really doubt the big money players see him as something to fund.

Of course, he could be doing a Sarah Palin: hanging around in case President Obama simply craters, e.g., some huge financial debacle causing spikes in interest rates, energy prices, and job loss. Then you don't want to cede the opportunity to someone else when almost any Republican would win. That possibility looks extremely unlikely and the President's recent actions show he recognizes that threat and is taking steps. Governor Perry knows he can't win against a moderately unsuccessful President Obama.

John Neely Bryan

Make no mistake - he is in. He is getting more press being out than those that are in. As long as he can quietly keep getting commitments for money and support he is going to wait as long as he can.

If he enters late and looses then it doesn't look as bad.