Michele Bachmann,  Mitt Romney,  President 2012,  Rick Perry,  Sarah Palin

President 2012: Iowa Governor Branstad Says Texas Governor Rick Perry Will Enter Presidential Race After Ames Straw Poll

July 16, 2011 /

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, right, listens as Hilton Garden Inn owner Larry Miller, foreground, talks about his hotel being surrounded by Missouri River floodwaters, during a tour Branstad took of flooding in Sioux City, Iowa, Monday, June 27, 2011

So, how will this affect the race?

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said Friday that Rick Perry, his Texas counterpart, is “seriously considering” entering the Republican presidential race.

While he has not yet spoken to Perry about a possible run, Branstad said the Texas governor chatted recently by phone with Kim Reynolds, his lieutenant governor.

Branstad, who was in Utah for the National Governors Association annual meeting, told CNN that Perry’s fact-finding calls into Iowa have left him with the impression that a presidential bid is likely.

He predicted that Perry will jump in “sometime after” the Ames Straw Poll on August 13.

Branstad also said Perry can “absolutely” afford to skip the straw poll, traditionally a test of each campaign’s organizational strength in the leadoff caucus state.

The wild card question is: will Sarah Palin jump into the race?

Texas Governor Rick Perry will replace Michele Bachmann as the anti-Romney candidate. But, Bachmann will run strong in Iowa but can she sustain her popularity into South Carolina and Florida?

As the long-time Governor of Texas, he certainly has the executive experience. Look for the GOP Washington Establishment to push a Rick Perry and Marco Rubio ticket.

Of course, Mitt Romney may have something to say about all of this and so might Sarah.