If Rick Perry breaks his promise to the people of Texas and runs in 2012, you can color me not surprised. He is first, and foremost, a politician - not a constitutional conservative (although he makes a lot of the right noises to please the crowd).
Should he make some strong indication that he is indeed going to seek the nomination, then we'll see how his presence in the field affects the other likely contenders' chances.
My guess, is that he would indeed make a strong showing in the southern states. However, I still don't believe that the American people are ready for another president from Texas, yet.
We'll see.
A Texan candidate will begin the race with 38 electoral votes from his own states, all of the south, all of the southwest, most of the mountain states, and a huge shot at the rust belt.
Perry is a pro-life, pro-freedom, pro-America patriot.
He has national, international, and extensive leadership experience.
For a governor to run for president is not that unusual....especially in his 3rd term. I think everyone would sort of expect it, and I think Texans would be proud.