Perry hints at 2016 presidential campaign

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) on Sunday hinted that he may make another run at the White House in 2016.

“I think America is a place that believes in second chances,” Perry told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I think that we see more character out of an individual by looking at, ‘How do you perform after you fail and you go forward?’”

Perry ran for president in 2012, but his campaign was marred by a number of gaffes that prevented him from winning the Republican nomination. He admitted as much on Sunday when asked about the mistakes he made during the previous election.

“I would tend to agree with them on the botched effort side of it,” Perry joked.

Political pundits say Perry may face a tough challenge winning even Texans’ votes with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who is popular with Tea Party conservatives, expected to join the race.

Meanwhile, former President George W. Bush, who served as the state’s governor, could pull Texans away to vote for his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

But Perry said he is not concerned by these potential Republican challengers.

“Like you said, it’s a big state,” Perry said. “It’s a big state.”

Perry said his focus as president would be job creation.

“I think it’s important for us to really listen to the American people,” Perry said. “And I think Americans are really concerned about, ‘How am I going to take care of my family?’ I’m really worried about those 90 million people who are out of work. The idea that there are more women out of work now than at any time in our history, that’s just not right.”