Texas abuzz about possible Perry-Cruz 2016 battle

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Two Texans, one White House. Is the 2016 Republican campaign trail big enough?


After plummeting from prime contender to political punchline three years ago, Gov. Rick Perry has spent months gearing up for a second run. And he's turned his recent indictment on felony abuse-of-power charges into a campaign rallying cry.

But even as Perry works to convince conservatives that he'll be better at coping with the national spotlight this time, he's increasingly bumping up against his state's junior senator, tea party darling Ted Cruz, whose firebomb approach on Capitol Hill has grassroots activists clamoring for him to make a White House run.

The prospect of a two-Texan presidential tilt is dominating political conversation in the state, even outshining a fiercely contested governor's race — and starting to get noticed nationally. Perry's preparations have long been obvious, while Cruz is working to raise his profile beyond just the far-right base and insert himself into the presidential conversation.

Asked about the 2016 prospects of both, Jim DeMint, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation, replied, "I think Cruz even more than Perry right now."

Though he's not endorsing either yet, DeMint added, "Ted has become really the national conservative leader."

Cruz and Perry, along with potential presidential rival Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, are addressing this weekend's national gathering of Americans for Prosperity, the powerful group backed by the billionaire industrialist Koch brothers. Cruz has made himself the star of such events, sometimes introduced as "our next president."

At a recent national gathering organized by the conservative blog RedState, hundreds of attendees bowed their heads to pray for him, calling Cruz an instrument of God's will.

Cruz himself says "time will tell" if he joins the presidential race. Perry has made no secret he's seriously considering a run.

Two Texans haven't competed for the presidency since George H.W. Bush and Ross Perot in 1992. Things got testy that time, as the New England-born incumbent had his true-Texas credentials questioned by the billionaire Dallas businessman, with his exaggerated twang and outlandish axioms like, "If someone as blessed as I am is not willing to clean out the barn, who will?"

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http://news.msn.com/us/texas-abuzz-about-possible-perry-cruz-2016-battle

[SamKnause]

1. Sad, bewildering, and definitely

scary to know I live in a country when men like these are taken seriously.

[tanyev]

2. That could be fun.

I don't think Perry would last very long in a contest with Cruz.

[hobbit709]

3. Perry couldn't even beat "None of the above" in a TX poll recently.

[Tikki]

4. They should add Sarah baby to their ticket as the vice-vice presidential candidate...

Tikki

[hifiguy]

5. That much concentrated stupidity in one place

might cave in the earth's crust.

[Tikki]

8. They could have a bumper sticker that reads...

Run this nation on Perry Cruz Palin...


Tikki

[Xipe Totec]

6. Will Ted Cruz swords? And will Rick Perry? nt

[bigdarryl]

7. Perry is going to be FOUND GUILTY this is a mute point

On him running for President

[Warpy]

9. Dumb and Dumber

Even Texas deserves better than those two crooks. The rest of the country know they deserve better. Texans have been very slow to realize it.

[tazkcmo]

11. No. No they don't.

They voted for these ass hats AND Bush. They got exactly what they deserve.

[tazkcmo]

10. The only people "buzzing" about this

are the people that get paid to buzz.

[Gothmog]

12. You are kidding

Texas Democrats are not worried about either Perry or Carnival Cruz. Cruz is slightly more dangerous than Perry but Cruz is such a nut case that he would not do well in a national race. Perry is just plain stupid and I would be overjoyed to see Perry be the 2016 nominee