Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue has made no secret of his admiration for the Lone Star State.
The Linda Republican often points to the state's relatively lax regulatory structure and business-friendly climate as a model California should follow. Last month, he led a mostly Republican delegation of California lawmakers on a "fact finding" trip to Texas to learn more about its job creation strategies.
Now he's looking to make the governor who brags of poaching California companies the nation's commander in chief, announcing the creation of the Committee to Draft Rick Perry for President.
"If we can get Governor Rick Perry in Washington instead of Texas he will no longer recruit businesses from California, but he will recruit jobs back to America from China and India," Logue wrote in a column posted on conservative website Flashreport.org. "Rick Perry will put America -- not just Texas, back to work."
Logue's effort was inspired in part by his meeting in April with Perry, who has served as Texas governor since 2000. He said in a statement that he was "impressed with (Perry's) ability to communicate and lead and the clarity that he has for building and growing the economy."
"Rick Perry has not just talked about building a thriving economy, he's actually done it," Logue continued.
Perry, the Republican Governors Association chairman, has repeatedly dismissed suggestions that he will join the 2012 GOP field of contenders, though support for a bid appears to be growing in conservative circles as several high-profile possible candidates have opted out of running.
Republican Assemblymembers Katcho Achadjian, Diane Harkey, Kevin Jeffries, Brian Jones and Mike Morrell have signed on to the California-based draft Perry campaign. It has launched a website urging supporters to call on the governor to run. Tell us whether you think Perry is presidential material in the poll below.
PHOTO CREDIT: Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the Lincoln Day dinner at the Galt House, Saturday, April 9, 2011, in Louisville, Ky. Scott Utterback, The Courier-Journal.
Editor's note: This post was updated to reflect that Perry is the current chairman of the Republican Governors Association. Updated 9:52 a.m., May 20, 2011.
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