Perry is the GOP Establishment fall back potion. Perry's only in here to split the Conservative Tea Party vote and hand Romney the nod
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2792217/posts
Step 3: Moderate whoever they pick as the 2012 nominee
Kristol told me just after Perry entered the race, a development that essentially ended [the more radical Michele] Bachmann’s brief ascent. Establishment Republicans may prefer Romney to Perry, but their assumption is that either man can be counted on to steer the party back toward the broad center next fall, effectively disarming the Tea Party mutiny.
You’re just plain wrong - and you’re going to see it over the next few days. There is more to come.