Erica Greider, from Austin, doesn't expect Perry to run:
The "niche" here is socially conservative rather than Southern, and it's not really a niche. The conceptual division in the party is between the people who prioritise economic issues and those who are more interested in the social side. All of the candidates that have been mooted so far, except for Mr Barbour, have been clearly aligned with one side or the other. That's why there's not a clear frontrunner. If there was a candidate who had credentials on both sides (like Mr Perry) he or she would post a strong showing. In the absence of such a candidate, the eventual nominee will probably be one of the business types.
Another Texan writes:
I wouldn't be shocked if Perry decided to run, but I don't think that will happen.
He was re-elected as a "it's either him or the Democrat" candidate last fall and since then, he's angered a large portion of the electorate in his own state with his bungling of the state budget. Texas has a massive budget shortfall and has started drastically slashing state welfare and education. The education part has especially drawn flak because of the way it was handled. The policy directive was to start laying off teachers as a first measure instead of a last resort and Perry originally flat-out refused to use any of the "rainy-day fund", his personal project bucket, to help close the gap. He's since reversed that position partially, but everyone's still mad.
I'm a moderate Democrat in a state full of hardcore conservatives that openly hate Obama and actually believe Fox News is the most honest news channel out there. However, most of the people I know down here also openly dislike Perry now too. I could see him winning Texas in a general election against Obama because of the anti-Democrat feeling that runs so strong here, but I don't see him winning the primary because there's just too much negativity surrounding his governorship right now. I've had discussions with plenty of staunch conservatives that openly disliked Perry, didn't want his policies, and didn't even want to vote for him but still did anyway. When I asked why, they simply said something along the lines of "Because he's not a Democrat".
Another reader:
Isn't there something incongruous about a governor who threatened to secede from the union running for President of the UNITED States?
The Dish 