Some downsides to Perry running...
First, he's not well known by voters outside of Texas.
Second, he's another Texas governor.
Third, he won't get the unreserved and full-throated support of southern conservatives, who are more intimately aware of his life and record, than those outside the region.
Lack of name recognition would probably be the least of his worries, if he were to run. The primary and the general would make him well known to the rest of the country.
Unfortunately, most of that heightened awareness would come courtesy of the leftstream media, who would do their usual number on a leading Republican contender.
He's not high on my list of 'dream candidates', but I'd give him my vote if he wound up being the last man standing.
“if he/she wound up being the last man/woman standing”
Guess I would too.