Report: Rick Perry to meet with New Hampshire activists

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is scheduled to chat with about a dozen New Hampshire political activists ahead of a possible 2016 presidential run, according to a report in NH Journal.

The online publication reported on Saturday that veteran New Hampshire Republican strategist Mike Dennehy, who spearheaded Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) two victories in the state’s first-in-the-nation primary, is leading the effort.

{mosads}The effort amounts to a continuation of Perry’s exploration of whether or not to dip his toe back into the presidential campaign race, after his 2012 bid ended with little success. The campaign was littered with multiple hiccups, including his infamous “Oops” moment onstage during a nationally televised debate.

In recent weeks, he has traveled the country advertising the merits of Texas’s business environment, all the while keeping his name in national headlines and meeting with influential party officials.

Dennehy has reportedly agreed to help Americans for Economic Freedom, an advocacy group linked to Perry and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). The group has recently been airing 30-second TV spots in New York highlighting Texas as a place that is “creating jobs, creating success [and] leading the way.”

“The facts: New York is the most unfriendly state for business,” Perry said in the ad. “So if you’re tired of New York, there’s an option: Texas.” 

The Texas governor made waves at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington, but recent polling has him near the bottom of the pack of potential 2016 Republicans candidates like Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Ted Cruz (Texas) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.