Texas Gov. Perry may join presidential race

AUSTIN, Texas – After months of resisting calls to join the race, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Friday he would consider seeking the Republican presidential nomination, potentially reshaping the GOP field.

At the same time, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is heading to New Hampshire next week, further stirring speculation that he will jump into the still-jelling field of GOP candidates to take on President Barack Obama.

Perry, the longest serving governor in Texas history, would bring conservative bona fides, a proven fundraising record and a fresh voice to the field. Even as Perry’s closest advisers say he has no intention of getting in the race, he has methodically raised his profile, fanning interest.

“I’m going to think about it,” Perry said Friday. “I think about a lot of things.”

That was enough to set off speculation Perry would jump into a campaign that lacks a clear front-runner.