You are right, the Bush and Perry people don’t get along. Old cotton farmer/oilman rivalry. W wouldn’t campaign for any of Perry’s election bids.
The Gardasil fiasco will have to be dealt with. From a philosophical conservative standpoint, it was a monumental mistake.
Since I never bought into a lot of the conspiratorial aspects of the Trans Texas Corridor, I didn't see at as any more than an infrastructure project overreach. Perry's grandiose tribute to himself.
But when stacked up against the competition, his baggage is easily more manageable than the others. And when more people find out about his story, he will easily soak up whatever Romney supporters are left within the Republican Party. Romney's doubling down on RomneyCare and AGW will give his few remaining defenders motivation to keep looking elsewhere.
I am inclined to believe that if Perry gets in, Palin will support and campaign for him. They have a close, working relationship.