Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry endorsed fellow Texan Sen. Ted Cruz for the Republican presidential nomination during an interview with Politico on Sunday night.
Perry, who is the longest serving governor in Texas history, said the crowded Republican field “appears to be down to two people” and Cruz is the solution.
“Of those individuals who have a chance to win the Republican primary, at this juncture, from my perspective, Ted Cruz is by far the most consistent conservative in that crowd,” Perry told Politico.
Perry also sought the Republican presidential nomination, but suspended his campaign in September over repeatedly low poll numbers. He will campaign for Cruz in Iowa alongside House Freedom Caucus Rep. Steve King (R-IA).
The Air Force veteran told Politico he understands experience isn’t value the same way this election cycle.
“Gov. Scott Walker, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, Jeb’s barely making an impact out there — those are very skilled, very successful, very experienced governors, but the electorate doesn’t want that. That’s why we have elections, why we democratically select leaders,” Perry told Politico.
Cruz recently lost the endorsement of former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin last week. She chose business mogul Donald Trump.
Perry said he hoped to see more collaboration in Washington.
“I’d rather see folks come together, work together to find solutions, but from time to time, you’ve got to lay the marker down,” Perry told Politico. “There’s that old adage, ‘You gotta hit the mule upside the head to get its attention from time to time.’ I’d suggest that’s exactly what the senator was doing.”
