In the Republican Party presidential primaries of OTL 2008, Governor Rick Perry of Texas declined to run for President of the United States, and instead endorsed the Former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani. What if Perry would have decided that 2008 was his time to run for President of the United States? How well do you think he would do against OTL's nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona, who he is more conservative than? I think that if he avoids gaffes and plays his cards right, he could potentially win the Iowa Republican Caucus (splitting the Christian Conservative vote with OTL's winner Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee) and the South Carolina Republican Primary. He would then only have to pull off a big victory during Super Tuesday to win the nomination. How do you think he would do in November against the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois? If Perry were to win the nomination, who do you believe his Vice Presidential nominee would be?
Some potential Vice Presidential nominees I came up with:

  • Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana (probably too soon for him, considering he would have only been Governor for less than one year)
  • Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas
 
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If he were to win the nomination, then he would get absolutely clobbered by Obama. The benefit is one of Romney's prospective rivals in 2012 would be elimated.
 
Indeed, but McCain is still a competitor.

McCain was already on the cusp of being seen as too old in 2008 and he'd be four years older in 2012.

Perry's nomination would entail him defeating John McCain-even if McCain were slightly younger he'd be a two time failed candidate.

When you add the changing nature of the Republican Party by 2012 I have a hard time seeing him run at all. He remains a what might have been of American politics. His 2008 effort being a mere sad footnote to the mythology of his 2000 campaign.
 
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