As Rick Perry “Secures the Integrity of the Ballot Box,” He Says, Sure, He Might Run for Prez

Just got a note from Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst after Perry signed into law the voter I.D. bill, which requires voters to present photo identification at a polling place. Said the gov, “The right to vote is simply too important for us to take the act of voting lightly. Today with the signing of this bill, we take a major step forward in securing the integrity of the ballot box and protecting the most cherished right we enjoy as citizens.”

After which the man who keeps saying he ain’t gonna run for president, no way, no sir, said … well, I just might do that. Or, to be more specific: “I’m going to think about it.” Then, maybe, pray on it. Just remember: He is the second coming of Ronald Reagan. Sure, he’s polling poorly now, but did you think he was hanging out with Grover Norquist for shits and giggles?

Update at 2:05 p.m.: The Daily Beast interviewed Perry for a story headlined “Rick Perry Might Run.” The last two paragraphs read as follows:

When asked how he means to respond to the Draft Perry suitors, he said that he has been holding off until this week’s conclusion of the legislature’s session. He did offer, by way of analogy, the political case to be made for choosing a seasoned governor for the national ticket.

“My son is getting his pilot’s license. I’m really happy for him. I don’t want him flying my airliner. Some day, I may want him to. I happen to be a rather highly trained aviator. The federal government spent a lotta money training me to be a very, very talented and capable aviator. I’ve got over 7,000 hours of flight time. There are my classmates who are still sitting in the left seats of triple 7’s and 737s. That’s who I want flying me when I go from Point A to Point B. I suggest to you that’s a good analogy for any profession, whether it’s the doctor operating on you or the person you want running your country.”