Perry says he feels 'called' to run

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Governor Rick Perry told the Des Moines Register he feels "called" to run for President. He said he'll reach a decision in the next two to three weeks.

In an interview with the Des Moines Register he said he hasn't decided yet.

"I’m not ready to tell you that I’m ready to announce that I’m in,” he told the paper. “But I’m getting more and more comfortable every day that this is what I’ve been called to do. This is what America needs.”

Jim Henson runs the Texas Politics Project and is a political science professor at UT. He said even if Perry hasn't made a decision, his campaign is already well underway.

"At a subterranean level he's already in and has been in for a long time," he said. "He's not a formal candidate, but he's doing all of the things candidates do."

Henson said the current dynamic gives Perry the leisure of testing the waters without diving in.

"The fact there's a division between the people who get up on Sunday morning and watch news shows and read political blogs, and the rest of the world, allows the Governor in a way to have it both ways," he said.

The Governor has already reached out to fundraisers and party leaders in early primary states. Even his decision to interview with the Des Moines Register held political undertones, as Iowa holds the nation's first caucuses.

"There should be nothing surprising to us at this point about the gov reaching out to the early primary states," said Henson.

On Sunday, Rudy Giuliani told CNN's Candy Crowley some candidates who hadn't yet entered the race were "pretty darn impressive." When pressed, he said he was talking about Perry.

"Rick's got a great record. Probably one of the strongest records of any governor in America," said the former New York City Mayor.

His remarks follow on the heels of Senator John Cornyn saying he thinks Perry will run.

"This would be the best chance he'd probably ever have, and people are still looking for a candidate to run," said Cornyn.

Henson said there does seem to be an opening for Perry on the conservative side of the party. 

"In the last few weeks its become more and more probable he's going to take the next step and declare a formal candidacy," said Henson.