Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said Thursday that he has “spent the last 20-plus months preparing” to run for president.
Perry made the comment in an interview with Bloomberg Television during a trip to China aimed at boosting his state’s trade and strengthening his foreign policy experience ahead of a possible 2016 run.
“I may not run in 2016, but I’ve spent the last 20-plus months preparing,” Perry said. “If I don’t run, it won’t be because I’m not prepared.”
Perry has made repeated trips to Iowa, home of the first nominating contest, and entered a high-profile showdown with President Obama over the surge of unaccompanied children at the Mexico border over the summer.
Yet he is still trying to put his failed 2012 presidential campaign, with his infamous “oops” moment forgetting which federal agency he had pledged to cut, behind him.
Perry on Thursday pointed to the back surgery he had before beginning that campaign and said “mentally and physically I was not on my game at all.”
Perry is also dealing with two indictments against him for allegedly abusing his power in attempt to force the resignation of a district attorney who had been arrested for drunken driving. Perry has called the indictment itself an “abuse of power.”
In addition to China, Perry also visited Japan on his trip. On Monday in Japan, Perry touted what he called his state’s welcoming business environment.
“So you see my point about Texas: It’s hard to be modest when you’ve got the best of everything,” he told the American Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo. “I don’t mind admitting that one reason Texas is doing so well today is that our state is a welcoming place. To anyone with ideas and talent looking for a smart location to invest and build, we say come right on in.”