Perry declares, starts campaign

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he came to New Hampshire immediately after launching a presidential bid Saturday in South Carolina for one reason.

He intends to compete for every vote in every state.

He may have a Southern drawl and conservative social policies, but Perry says his presidential strategy won’t ignore New Hampshire or anyplace else.

The 61-year-old Texas native spoke to New Hampshire voters at a Saturday evening reception at the home of a state lawmaker. His wife and children were on hand as he re-stated his pledge to make the federal government as “inconsequential” in people’s lives as possible.

It was his first visit to the first-in-the-nation primary state, but he’s already scheduled to return in the middle of next week.