Rick Perry announced his second presidential run this morning by launching his website, Perry for President.
"If we're going to revive this American dream again we need a president who provides leadership that transcends the petty partisanship we've seen in the last few years. Someone that's been tested and a president who tells the American people the truth," Perry said in a video featured on the website.
The former Texas governor will have a formal announcement later today in Addison, Texas north of Dallas featuring a certain amount of military-style pomp and circumstance.
Perry, a former Air Force pilot, will appear at an airfield with numerous members of the military and with a backdrop of a C-130, the aircraft he flew in the 1970s. Among the VIPs will be Tara Kyle, the widow of late “American Sniper” Chris Kyle, the Texan who’s exploits as a sniper were featured in a best-selling book and blockbuster movie.
It is star-power that Perry is looking for after a disastrous 2012 run for president when he burned out after a late start, felled by poor health and unforced errors. He famously said “oops” during a debate after failing to remember the third of three government agencies he wanted to eliminate.
The longest serving governor in Texas history, Perry retired in January after 14 years in office and now says he is healthy and prepared for a serious run.
He now wears glasses that give him a more serious air and he’s abandoned the signature cowboy boots that he said aggravated his bad back.