Why Texas Gov. Rick Perry may run again for president

Gov. Rick Perry may have set his sights on the Texas border with his plan to send 1,000 state National Guard troops to boost security, but some suggest his main target is the Republican base, as the governor has strongly signalled he may attempt another presidential nomineerun.

He hasn't made a decision about 2016. Regardless, he is taking his preparation seriously, Jeff Miller, a senioradviserto Perry, told CBC News.

Part of that preparation, whichfor nearly the past two years has included boning up on foreign and domestic policy, and making several trips to the keystate of Iowa,could be continuing to press the White House about border security, an importantissue with manyRepublicans.

On Monday, Perry said the national guard troops were going to combatcriminals who wereexploiting a surge of children pouring into the U.S. illegally. However,White House spokesman Josh Earnest suggested that Perrys plan was about generating the kind of headlines I suspect he intended. And TonyPayan, director of the MexicoCenterat Rice University's Baker Institute in Houston, said theoperational effect of the plan would be limited, forcing one to think that this is a political move."

But Miller flatly denied the movehad anything to do with politics.

"This is about solving a serious problem facing our country, Miller said. He believes America cant have national security without border security."

• Rick Perry to send 1,000 guardsmen to Texas border during migrant influx
• Barack Obama, Texas Republican Rick Perry talk child immigration in Texas
• Mitt Romney's fan club wants him to run againwill he?
• Jeb Bush's 2016 presidential decision is a family matter

Perry, 64, will not be running for re-election as Texas governor. And, as the New York Times noted, if Perry is seekinganother run for presidential nominee, hemay also be trying to curry favour among conservatives who either questioned his resolve on illegal immigration during that race or were stung by some of his comments.

'Oops moment'

In one testy Republican primary debate, asthe candidates took shots at Perrys support of a law allowing children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition,Perry shot back: If you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no other reason than they've been brought there by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart.

Some in the party found the remark insulting. But it hardly delivered the death knell to what had been a rocky campaign. Most believe that came withhis now famous "oops"moment.

In yet another debate, Perry said he would eliminate three agencies of the federal government, but could only nametwo. The moment, while met with laughs from the audience, quickly turned cringeworthy as CNBC's John Harwoodpressed the governor: "But you can't name the third one?"

Perry stumbledaround, looking increasingly uncomfortable, until finally admitting:I cant, the third one, I cant. Sorry. Oops.

He would go on to finish fifth in the Iowa caucuses and sixth in the New Hampshire primary before calling it quits.

The governor has been very honest in stating that 2012 was a humbling experience, and one that he learned greatly from, Miller said.

By his own admission, Perry didnt prepare well for the 2012 race, and was also hobbled by having to campaign while on painkillers, as he recovered fromback surgery.

But he has since attempted to craft a new, thoughtfulimage as a politician who has delved into the issues an effort to erase the "oops"moment from the minds of American voters.

New glasses

New dark-rimmed glassesgivehim a more intellectual look, althoughhe insists they were ordered by an eye doctor tohelp improve his vision. (Perry credits his wife for picking out the frames.)

Meanwhile,during the past 18 months Perry has met with influential foreign and domestic policy-makers from around the world, Miller said.

Gov.Perry believes that it is important to closely follow issues and events occurring around the world and engage with others to determine how they might affect America's future, Miller said. This is a lesson he learned in 2012.

The experience has certainly made him more vocal on foreign policy issues(and more appealing to Republican hawks), where he has called fora more aggressive stance in Iraq and Syria. It's also put him at oddswith Republican Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who also is seen as a potential presidential nominee. In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Perryaccused Paul of being an isolationist, a charge Paul has denied.

But if Perry is trying to boost his credentials with the more conservative wing of the Republicans, his recent appearance at the World Economic Forum would suggest hes also trying to broaden his appeal.

Perry appeared on a drug panel, where the so-called tough Texasconservative spoke aboutdecriminalizing marijuana, andhis states attempts to decreasethepenaltiesfor some drug offences.

You dont want to ruin a kid's life for having a joint, Perry later said (to much applause) in an appearance on the JimmyKimmelLive show.

Weve been able to shut down a prison in the state of Texas. Thats conservative, man.

Writing for the National Journal, political analyst Charlie Cook said that sincePerry's 2012 debacle, many observers have tended to write off his chances.

"But whether one agrees with him or not, he seems to have enough raw talent, combined with the benefit of past experience, that blowing him off might be premature.

Asked by Kimmel if he was running again, considering "it didn't go that great last time," Perry responded, "You know, America is a great place for second chances.Let's just leave it at that."