Rick's quietly endorsed candidates winning...

Rick has somewhat quietly been endorsing candidates in other states, and they seem to keep winning (link). Excerpt follows...

April 16, 2010

Texas Governor Rick Perry Endorses Huelskamp
DODGE CITY – This morning, the Congressional campaign of Tim Huelskamp (R-Fowler) announced that they have received the endorsement of Texas Governor Rick Perry. Governor Perry has emerged as a leading conservative voice in the Republican Party, and Senator Huelskamp said he was honored to receive Perry’s endorsement.

In a letter to the citizens of Kansas, Governor Perry said: “There is only one candidate in this race that will keep the state of Kansas and our nation moving forward in the right direction, and that’s Tim Huelskamp…I do not make this endorsement lightly and only offer my support when I am certain of a candidate’s strong conviction…Tim is without a doubt one of those candidates and I am proud to offer my endorsement of his campaign.”

Tim Huelskamp responded that he was very pleased and honored to receive Governor Perry’s endorsement: “I am very grateful and honored to have Governor Perry’s support,” said Huelskamp. “The conservative movement needs strong principled leaders like Governor Perry and I to continue fighting for the values that made America great.”

Does this mean anything about a 2012 run? Probably not given how adamant Rick has been at denying a run for higher office beyond Texas, but it may mean that Rick is just truly emerging as one of the top handful of conservative leaders in America, which gives him great power when the legislature is in session dealing with arcane issues... by becoming a national figure Rick now has a bully pulpit beyond what he had before (link). Rick can now turn to the Wall Street Journal or other national sources and nationalize issues that might have once been dominated by a few liberal members of the Texas press corps... they must hate that... which explains why their coverage is more slanted than it has ever been in my lifetime in Texas politics... which goes back a ways...