Texas Governor Rick Perry Officially Announces Presidential Bid

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has officially announced his run for President in the 2012 election. The long-time Texas governor made the announcement to voters in a conference call, about an hour before a planned speech in Charleston, South Carolina.

The announcement came as more of a formality, with some of his top advisers announcing his intentions to run earlier this week. "I fully intend to win" said Perry, who also told voters he wants to go to Washington to do his duty, not to make friends.

During the call, Perry criticized Obama's foreign policy and said he could create more jobs than the current president. Perry told voters he want's their votes for the party nomination so that he can take on Obama.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn made the following statement after Texas Governor Rick Perry announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the Presidency of the United States:

“I’m pleased that Governor Perry is joining an already strong field of Republican Presidential candidates and that the Texas success story will play an important role in the debate ahead. Under Governor Perry’s leadership, Texas has been a shining example that less government, lower taxes and less regulation of our small businesses helps to grow jobs and move our economy forward.  It’s a striking contrast to the big government, big spending, liberal mindset of the current Administration. I look forward to watching everyone in our strong Republican field work to make President Obama a one-term President, turn this nation around, and put us back on a path toward economic prosperity.”

Perry's presidential bid in South Carolina distracts from the Straw Poll going on in Iowa, stirring the pot of other candidates who have been competing for months.