You can spin things all you want,
I’m not spinning a damn thing. He was a democrat reprsentative in Texas and in the 1988 democrat primary he supported Gore. The other choices were, Gephardt, Dukakis, Jackson, Simon, and Hart. Down south the Republican party was small until the democrats begin the process of joining the Republican party.
It wasn’t until 2002 that Texas Republicans gained a majority in the state House. That set up the mid term Congressional redistricting that finally gave Texas a majority of Republicans 21 to 11 democrats. Prior to that the democrats controlled the delegation 17-15.
It disgusts me to see Perry compared to Reagan. Reagan studied politics and read about economics, in which he majored in college (where Perry studied "animal science"). It was only after Reagan became conservative that he entered politics. He spoke eloquently on behalf of Goldwater, even though Barry was already doomed at that point. That's precisely the opposite of Perry, who held prominent offices, then waited until it was safe to switch to "Republican" once it was clear that being a Demonrat was not the best bet for a career politician in TX. Even decades after switching, he endorsed candidates who were Demonrat in all but name.
It also disgusts me to see him credited with economic and job growth in Texas. Herman Cain has actually generated wealth and given people jobs; Rick Perry never has. What has he ever done, outside of his govt. employment?