Rick stepping out from George W. Bush's shadow...

Wayne Slater profiles Rick's quest to be his own man (link). Excerpt follows...

AUSTIN – When he first took office as governor, Rick Perry acknowledged, "I'm not George Bush." And in the decade that followed, he has sought to prove it.

Rick Perry's criticism of the federal government, often aimed at Kay Bailey Hutchison, also reflects on former President George W. Bush." style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; ">

FILE 2009/The Associated Press

Rick Perry's criticism of the federal government, often aimed at Kay Bailey Hutchison, also reflects on former President George W. Bush.

As the 10-year incumbent, Perry is the dominant force in the campaign that formally began Monday, and in Texas politics in general. And one way he got there was by studiously separating himself from George W. Bush.

If Bush reflects the rise of the Republican Party in Texas, Perry represents its political dominance and recent populist shift.

Hutchison has the support of some of Bush's allies, such as former adviser Karl Rove and former White House counselor Karen Hughes." style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; ">

FILE 2009/Staff photo

Hutchison has the support of some of Bush's allies, such as former adviser Karl Rove and former White House counselor Karen Hughes.

"There's no doubt that psychologically, Perry has tried to step away from the shadow of George W. Bush," said GOP political consultant Matt Mackowiak, a former aide to Perry's Republican challenger, Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Go read the whole article... it has some new information including some from a former Rick staffer who remains anonymous... which I have not seen much of before...

It kind of explains why some of the Bush peeps like Rove and Hughes are with Kay... and why Rick has been critical of Bush...