After months of indecision, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Friday that he will consider seeking the Republican presidential nomination, which could further reshape the GOP field that lacks a clear front-runner.
“I’m going to think about it,” Perry said, according to The Washington Post. “I think about a lot of things.”
Perry, the longest serving governor in Texas history, has denied for months any interest in making a bid for the White House. Perry took over the governor’s office from former President George W. Bush in 2000.
If Perry joins the race, he could bring tough stands on state sovereignty, border security, taxes, and gun rights—positions that make him a favorite of the tea party movement.
Meanwhile, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is going to the key early voting state of New Hampshire next week, stirring speculations that he will enter the still uncertain field of GOP candidates to challenge President Barack Obama.
The GOP field has reshuffled quite a bit over the past few months with Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, and real estate magnate Donald Trump leaving the race.
While many are on the list of White House hopefuls, former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty are the only two candidates who have formally announced their intentions to partake in the race.
