Rick Perry to Announce Decision on 2016 Bid in GOP Presidential Race

By Isaiah Narciso
Rick Perry
Rick Perry

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry is expected to announce his decision on whether or not he will run for president in 2016 at an event in Dallas scheduled on June 4.

According to Patrick Svitek of Texas Tribune, Perry and his wife, Anita, sent out an invite on Friday indicating that a "special announcement" would be made on that day. Svitek thought that Perry would be considered a "decisive underdog" this time around.

"He has been polling in the low single digits in the early-voting states and still faces an indictment in Travis County on abuse-of-power charges," Svitek wrote. "But he has been working to be more prepared for a presidential campaign than he was in 2011, brushing up on policy and spending more time in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina than most other potential candidates."

Svitek reported that if Perry decides to run, he would be entering a crowded Republican field that included Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. He could also be facing off against Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker should they officially decide to run for office.

Jake Miller of CBS News looked at what Perry will bring to the 2016 presidential race.

"Perry will bring an extensive record of executive leadership to the race: He was governor of Texas for 14 years, taking the job in 2001 after his predecessor, George W. Bush, moved into the White House," Miller wrote. "He went on to win reelection an unprecedented three times in 2002, 2006, and 2010."

Miller then focused on how Perry will set himself apart from the other presidential candidates.

"Perry has pitched himself as a strong conservative on fiscal, national security, and social issues, but one who still knows how to get things accomplished," Miller wrote. "He's pointed to a strong record of job creation in Texas under his watch, along with various conservative measures he enacted, including regulatory reform, tort reform, and tax reductions."

According to Svitek, the former Texas governor may also rely on his small-town upbringing and military experience as a former Air Force pilot as part of his candidacy. He is also conducting activities consistent with a possible presidential run.

"Through his political action committee RickPAC, the former governor has assembled a team of dozens of people new and old to his political orbit," Svitek wrote. "Jeff Miller, Perry's most senior adviser, is expected to run the campaign."

Perry's wife sent an email in support of her husband.

"America is facing a time of testing, and it's clear that we need principled leadership and an optimistic vision to see us through after eight years of the Obama Administration," Anita wrote.

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