AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Before Rick Perry can parlay his victory in the Texas governor's primary into something bigger — like a spot on the 2012 Republican presidential ticket, perhaps — he'll have to win a record-setting, third full four-year term.
And that means beating Bill White, the former Houston mayor. White might be the Democrat with the cash and base of support to counter Perry's Texas swagger and cutthroat campaign style and end his undefeated streak at the ballot box.
Perry beat Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the GOP primary Tuesday with a relentless anti-Washington message. And his spokesman Mark Miner says that'll continue against White.
White says he won't let Perry stray from his record on job losses and the dropout rate.
