Rick Perry Admits He's a Cogitator

Rick Perry 'fessed up this morning: "For the last six months, I have cogitated." This from a man who has consistently opposed gay rights, going so far as to oppose even civil unions. The apple has not fallen far from the Paint Creek, Texas, tree.

The object of his cogitating? Rudy Giuliani, whom he endorsed for President this morning. The fact that Giuliani favors gay rights (9/11) and gun control (9/11) did not deter Texas's Only Governor from endorsing the thrice-married Giuliani (9/11). In fact, Perry sent around some talking points to accompany the press conference call that defended Giuliani's position on some of these hot-button issues. According to Ross Ramsey:

A talking points memo sent to Perry friendlies addresses differences between the candidate and the governor on four big issues: abortion, gay marriage and gays in general, gun control, and immigration. Perry's answers, in order: "Good people can disagree on this issue"; "...we, too, are called to love everyone even if we may disagree on issues like this one"; "Mayor Giuliani makes a distinction between what may work in New York City versus the rest of America"; and "Mayor Giuliani understands that you cannot have homeland security without border security."

Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic thinks this is Perry's audition to get on the GOP ticket as a vice-presidential candidate. Something to think about, in spite of Perry's denials (including today, per Elise Hu: "I have a really really good job and I love my job. In fact I just moved out of the mansion and I'm not looking to move again," Perry said.)

Perry fits the conventional wisdom of a ticket-balancer: Rudy's northeasters, he's southwestern; Rudy was a mayor, he's a governor (and Americans love governors -- four of our last five Presidents had been governors); Rudy's soft on God, guns and gays, but no one accuses Perry of that. Well, not seriously.

On the other hand, Texas is a reliably red state for Presidential politics in which Perry won re-election with only 39 percent of the vote a year ago. His last legislative session was a train wreck, with Republican lawmakers sabotaging his initiatives on Gardasil, TXU and toll roads. He finished the session by vetoing $154 million in needed funding for community colleges and getting himself named to Texas Monthly's Ten Worst list. Things have only gotten better over the summer because everyone went home.

Perry and his new BFF Rudy Giuliani are heading to Iowa today to stump for Giuliani's candidacy. I wonder how Rudy will dress for the occasion.