Perry makes his case

Outgoing Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) may be testing his message for another White House run even as he wraps up more than a decade at the helm of his state.

“Americans are looking for competent leadership. And sometimes it shows itself in ways that you could have never have dreamed of,” Perry said in an interview aired on CNN’s “The Lead” Friday evening, citing his responses to crises in the state during his tenure.

“Americans are begging for a positive view of the future, for an individual whose got a record of being able to make the future better for their families, and that’s exactly what we’ve done in Texas over the last 14 years,” Perry told CNN. 

“More jobs created than any other state,” he added.

{mosads}Should he enter the race, Perry would likely face a crowded GOP field, with prominent figures including Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also seen as likely to run.

Bush fired the first shot of  2016 by announcing early last week that the would “actively explore” a White House bid. He has since announced he would end consulting work with banking giant Barclays and step down from the board of a healthcare company.

“Jeb’s a good man, he’s a good friend, great family, good governor of Florida. As a matter of fact I think Jeb getting into the race will help the field,” Perry told CNN. “He’s been a successful governor, and again having a person of his background in the race makes a lot of sense. But it won’t make a difference about whether I get in or not,” he added.

“Running for the presidency is not an IQ test. It is a test of an individual’s resolve; it is a test of an individual’s philosophy; it is a test of an individual’s life experiences,” Perry said in an interview earlier this month on MSNBC.

“I think Americans are really ready for a leader that will give them a great hope about the future,” he added.

The Lone Star governor leaves office after being being indicted for abuse of power, a move his supporters call politically motivated.

Perry has given a series of interviews this month to help set the stage for another potential presidential bid, a decision he told CNBC this month that he would make before June.

He has acknowledged his lack of preparation for his 2012 White House run, a failing which infamously resulted in him forgetting, during a live televised debate, the third government agency he’d promised to eliminate as president. 

“We are a substantially different, versed candidate,” he told The Washington Post earlier this month.

He reiterated to CNN his commitment to be better prepared should he launch another bid.

Next month Perry will head to the early caucus state of Iowa to speak at the Iowa Freedom Summit, an event attracting many potential 2016 GOP contenders including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and conservative star Dr. Ben Carson.