Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry parachuted into Washington on Thursday, telling a gathering of conservatives that the GOP must not “waste” its congressional majorities while suggesting the party could learn a thing or two about leadership from the way in which Republican governors are tackling big issues in the states.
Freed from the shackles of office, Mr. Perry can now focus solely on laying the groundwork for a second White House bid that he hopes can help people put his embarrassing 2012 campaign behind him.
Speaking at the American Principles Project Red, White and Blue Gala at the Mayflower Hotel, Mr. Perry said that the problem with Washington is that it has become a “debating society” that “seldom” solves problems.
“Governors have to make choices,” he said. “We have to make choices and take action. Americans have become cynical that Washington can ever change, and I am kind of skeptical that an agent of change can come from Washington, to tell you the truth.
“But change must occur, because our nation is on this slow glide path to decline,” he said.
The 64-year-old Air Force veteran has had his eye on the GOP presidential race for well over a year. That puts him light-years ahead of where he was during the 2012 race, when he was thought to have the kind of political profile that could seize the conservative mantle and stop former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney from winning the party’s presidential nomination.
“Look, he is a guy who is doing this 180 degrees differently than he did last time,” said Henry Barbour, a Republican National Committee member from Mississippi and informal adviser to Mr. Perry. “Last time, at this point he was sitting in the Texas governor’s mansion thinking about his day job, and it wasn’t until May when he even began to ponder that he may run.”
Mr. Perry announced Thursday that he had recruited about 80 donors to his Rick PAC Advisory Board to help him lay the foundation for a White House run.
Still, GOP analysts say Mr. Perry faces a narrower path to victory in 2016 because the field is expected to be much stronger. Mr. Perry’s allies say he learned tough lessons and can bounce back, thanks to a combination of what they see as his strong retail-politicking skills, his strong 15-year gubernatorial record and his broad appeal within the party.
“The bottom line with 2012 is that voters, especially in the early primary states, never had a true chance to develop a relationship with him, and that is what they will have the opportunity to do if he runs,” said Michael Dennehy, a longtime GOP consultant in New Hampshire who is advising Mr. Perry. “I strongly and firmly believe that Rick Perry has an appeal across a broad spectrum of Republican voters and fiscally conservative independents as well. That is why there is little doubt in my mind that he can win the Republican nomination because of his broad appeal.”
Mr. Barbour said Mr. Perry’s humble upbringing also plays well with voters.
“His roots in Paint Creek, Texas, where his family did not have electricity or running water when he was young, help him connect with voters better than anyone else in the field,” he said. “He has the potential to bridge the varied groups and coalitions.”
In 2012 Mr. Perry’s GOP rivals hammered him over issues such as immigration, Social Security and mandated vaccinations for 6th grade girls.
But his biggest hurdle could be overcoming his infamous “oops” moment from a 2012 debate, where he couldn’t remember the name of one of the three federal agencies he planned on abolishing if elected president.
That shaky performance is still at the forefront of many party activists’ minds.
Dan Hartman, a 56-year-old who turned out for the Iowa Freedom Summit to hear from Mr. Perry and other 2016 hopefuls, said that could haunt the Texan’s second campaign for the nomination.
“I know they’ve done some big things in Texas, there is no doubt about that. But that gaffe that he had during the debate I think is going to hurt him,” he told The Washington Times.
Mr. Barbour said Mr. Perry is better prepared, and said voters will give him a second look.
“They know he is conservative, but mostly they need to know that he can stand up there on stage with his opponents and can go toe-to-toe with them on the various issues,” he said.
Polls show Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker leading among Republican hopefuls in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two stops on the nomination calendar.
“Perry is kind of languishing in the bottom half of a very crowded field,” said Christopher B. Budzisz, director of the Loras College poll in Iowa.
Voters, though, have a positive impression of Mr. Perry, Mr. Budzisz said.
“He seems to be an acceptable candidate for many people,” he said. “He might not be the first choice or the second choice, but he doesn’t have that uphill fight to convince caucusgoers that he is one of them, whereas Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, who are seen as more moderate members of the GOP, have much higher negatives going into the race.”
Mr. Perry has been a familiar face in Iowa. Since 2013 he has visited the state eight times, more than most of his possible rivals, according to a tally from Democracy in Action.
Mr. Perry also has spent some time in New Hampshire and is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at a couple of GOP events there next week.
“In my opinion, there is no better place to start than toward the bottom with low expectations,” Mr. Dennehy said. “He is starting fresh; he is starting new. He is developing relationships for the first time, really.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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