I am not on the Perry bandwagon, but this is a specious argument. A lot of great conservative Republicans were once Democrats (most notably, Ronaldus Magnus). And Perry worked for Gore's campaign in 1988, when Gore was still a pretty conservative Dem.
Don’t be silly.
You point out 1988 in a “time changes things” manner. You’re right. There is a significant difference between Reagan as a democrat prior to 1962 and Perry as a democrat until 1989.
If Perry was a democrat until 1989, failing to convert during Ronaldus Magnus’s two terms, then he’s utterly hopeless.
Was Reagan elected to office as a Democrat?
It’s one thing to be a lowly staffer in your 20s for a Democrat (see: Bachmann), it’s another to be an elected Democrat legislator (see: Perry).
And your best argument is that Al Gore wasn’t as bad in 1988 as he is now?