Texas Gov. Perry announces he won’t seek fourth term

Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO

Gov. Rick Perry was a champion of fiercely conservative social activism long before the tea party was born. He oversaw the “Texas Miracle” job- creation boom and became the state’s most powerful governor since Reconstruction.

But nationally, Perry is better known for his “oops” presidential-debate brain freeze or for not opposing forcefully enough the notion that Texas could secede from the union. For many outside the Lone Star State, he’s a political punchline on par with Dan Quayle — if he’s known at all.

Now, the longest-serving governor in Texas history is quitting his day job. Perry announced Monday that he won’t seek a fourth full term in office next year but notably didn’t say whether another run for the White House in 2016 could be next.

But for his future to include another run for president, Perry first will need to concentrate on rebuilding his tattered image outside of Texas.