Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), who launched failed bids for the presidency in 2012 and 2016, repeatedly dodged questions from CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Friday morning about whether he was open to entering the presidential race again as a third-party candidate if GOP frontrunner Donald Trump won the party’s nomination.
The interview began with Perry admitting it would “be difficult for anyone” to reach the delegate threshold for the GOP nomination. Perry, who was the longest serving governor in Texas history, endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) after suspending his own campaign.
“I think we’re headed towards a contested contest, if you will, a contested convention,” Perry said, speaking from Austin, Texas. “And at that particular point in time, I think Ted Cruz is very, very well situated to get the nomination.”
Perry said he believes Republicans will come together to support the nominee in order to defeat Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
Bolduan then switched gears from talking about the upcoming Wisconsin primary to Texas, which held its Republican primary on March 1. The Texas Tribune confirmed Tuesday that the Fayette County Elections Administration never received Perry’s mail-in ballot.
After Bolduan plainly asked Perry, “Did you vote?”, Perry blamed the United States Postal Service.
“Count on the United States postal system to let some things fall through the crack at the best I can get,” Perry said. “Yeah. Filled out the ballot, mailed it in and it never got to the Fayette County courthouse.”
Bolduan pointed out that not voting in a party primary is the first requirement to run as an independent in Texas.
Perry, chuckling, said that “would be a pretty great April Fool’s joke.”
When Bouldan said his name had been floated as a potential third-party candidate, Perry reiterated his allegiance to Cruz.
“I’m unequivocally saying I’m supporting Ted Cruz,” Perry said. “I think that’s where we’re headed and going, and in November as he is our nominee up against Hillary Clinton, he’s going to look pretty good.”
But if Cruz loses the Republican nomination, Bolduan pressed, would Perry step in as a third-party nominee?
“Well, you asked the question earlier, am I going to support the nominee that the Republican Party comes up with. And I am. So that precludes a third-party effort there,” Perry said.
Watch part of the interview below:
Is Rick Perry open to a third party run? @KateBolduan asks him https://t.co/THQa2WATZR
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) April 1, 2016
