Rick Perry has weighed in.
The former Texas governor believes his fellow Texan, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, is the most “consistent conservative” running for president and, by golly, he wins the endorsement of the Pride of Paint Creek.
Not even close.
You’ll recall, perhaps, when Perry — when he was still seeking the 2016 GOP presidential nomination — called Donald J. Trump a “cancer” on the conservative movement.
Not long after that, Perry dropped out, saying he was “suspending” his campaign. Trump laughed it off, as he does any time someone speaks ill of him.
I have no clue what kind of impact the Perry endorsement will have on this race. Indeed, whenever some former big hitter weighs in on this campaign, I keep hearing snarky comments from others — mainly on the right and far right — dismissing them as “has beens” or “losers.” Come to think of it, that’s what Trump calls them, too.
But ponder this for a moment.
Quite soon, the Republican presidential primary caravan will find its way to Texas, which has its primary on March 1.
Texas is where Perry’s views matter the most.
He was elected to several political offices: state legislator, agriculture commissioner, lieutenant governor and governor. He never lost an election. Why, he even was elected to the Legislature as a Democrat, for crying out loud.
It might not matter much in places such as New Hampshire or Iowa what Rick Perry thinks of the GOP contest.
It matters here, though. And the last time I checked, Texas still sends a lot of delegates to each party’s respective political convention.