WSJ: Perry Running For President

The Wall Street Journal reports:

A Republican campaign veteran tells us that Texas Governor Rick Perry has decided to run for President, though the official word from Team Perry is still a definite maybe.

Our normally reliable Republican source reports that Mr. Perry has surveyed the field and decided to get in the race later this summer, perhaps around the time of the national prayer meeting that Mr. Perry is hosting on August 6 at a Houston football stadium. Our source also reports that Mr. Perry is aiming to compete in the Iowa Straw Poll, even though it occurs just a week later, on August 13. The thinking is that apparent front-runner Mitt Romney "does not reflect the Republican Party" and is therefore vulnerable to a credible challenge from the right, especially after Mr. Romney's recent squishy remarks on global warming.

Beyond simply the August 13 event in Ames, Iowa, a big question for Mr. Perry is whether a compressed schedule would allow him to attract enough money and primary voters to win the nomination. Perry campaign adviser David Carney says that question still hasn't been answered, and even a positive verdict doesn't necessarily mean the Texan would enter the race. "Then he's got to saddle up and do a gut check" to determine if he's ready for the rigors of a presidential run, says Mr. Carney.