The old saying that I didn't leave the party, the party left me, still stands today. The majority of Conservatives, like me, were Democrats at one point in our young lives.
Some of us just grew up and smelled the bullsh*t. Onward, Christian soldiers! Proud to be a Conservative every damn day of my life! And you are correct about most Democrats being conservative!
Perry didn't, The Reagan years is when he chose to become a Captain for the Democrats, a 1984 Congressional Democrat candidate, and Al Gores's campaign manager against Reagan's veep in 1988.
The elderly man took my father to hear RR in a nearby town...and the rest is history. Even then they didn't advertise they voted R because my dad was in business...and it wouldn't have been good.
Dems can be nasty mean.
The county I live in has never had a county wide elected Republican. Since Ann Richards the GOP candidates for governor and POTUS have carried our county but Dems win Co. offices..and they vote Repub for state and fed offices.
Wouldn't surprise me to learn some are Tea Party members.