Texas Gov. Rick Perry confirmed his support for Rudy Giuliani for president in an appearance in Washington and a telephone press conference with Texas reporters Wednesday morning. Perry’s most pungent statement, though, might have been his renewed disavowal of interest in being a Republican vice presidential nominee. Though he didn’t say never-ever-ever, Perry repeated that he’s happy to remain governor.
“I have a really really good job. I love my job,” Perry said.
Referring to a recent move out of the Governor’s Mansion so the building can be overhauled, Perry continued: “I just had to move out of the mansion and I’m not looking for another move.”
Giuliani, asked to appraise Perry as a vice presidential possibility, was interrupted by Perry before he could answer. “I won’t consider that, let me just tell you,” Perry said.
Giuliani still said the Texas governor would be at the top of any Republican’s list of veep possibilities “no matter what happens.”
Perry said he settled on Giuliani as his choice for president after six months of careful study of the candidates and several face-to-face conversations with the former New York mayor. “The mayor knows how to lead, he knows how to get results and he knows how to win,” Perry said.
The key factor, Perry said, was Giuliani’s vow to appoint strict constructionist judges to the U.S. Supreme Court. Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, Perry suggested, would make appointees likely to perform like “legislators with robes on.”
Asked to explain his choice of a candidate who favors gun restrictions, supports abortion and who has no objection to gay civil unions—all positions conflicting with Perry’s own — Perry conceded the disagreement on abortion, saying: “The fact of the matter is good people can disagree on this issue.”
He re-stressed his expectation that Giuliani would appoint conservative justices.
Calling himself a strong supporter of the right to bear arms, Perry said Giuliani would distinguish between restrictions that work in New York and the rest of the nation. Giuliani, answering another question, said he’s comfortable leaving gun restrictions within the bounds of the Second Amendment up to individual states.
“Amen,” Perry said.
Finally, Giuliani endorsed plans approved by Congress last year to build fencing along portions of the U.S.-Mexico border. Perry saluted him on that point, while adding that he finds the prospect of a wall all along the border “impossible.”
The pair said they were heading next to Iowa, site of the nation’s first presidential caucuses in January.
Perry said he’s looking forward to returning to Texas (where he’ll see if there’s political fallout of consequence).