Assemblyman Logue says Rick Perry has ‘Ronald Reagan mystique'

Today's formal announcement by Texas Gov. Rick Perry of his entry into next year's race for the White House will bring some enthusiasm — and could be the start of a new role — for Assemblyman Dan Logue.

After all, Logue, R-Linda, helped spearhead a national campaign to draft Perry into the race, based on the belief by Logue and others that Perry's jobs-creation success in Texas could be repeated nationally.

"The jobs issue is paramount for us," said Logue, who began a website in the spring aimed to get Perry into the race and said a majority of his fellow GOP legislators in the Assembly joined up. "This is a candidate that has the Ronald Reagan mystique."

Logue said Friday he believes Perry can bring together blue-collar workers, business Republicans, independents and even some Democrats in the way Reagan did, based on a common desire to bring back prosperity.

Because Texas has added more jobs since the recession began than any other state, Logue said, Perry can exemplify those hopes.

Buck Weckman, a spokesman for the Yuba County Republican Central Committee, said members haven't started discussing next year's presidential contest much.

But on a personal level, he said, he could see Perry injecting some excitement because of his jobs success.

"We know there are quite a few businesses that have moved from California to Texas," Weckman said. "Hopefully, if he's elected Gov. Perry can stimulate the economy nationwide."

Still, Perry moving from possible candidate to candidate will bring a different perspective from voters. Critics on both the Republican and Democratic sides may call attention to criticisms of Perry's record as creating low-income jobs and doing little to improve overall economic conditions in his state.

And Logue said questions about Perry's common traits with his predecessor in the Texas governor's office, former President George W. Bush, are legitimate.

"We've had a recession that was the worst in 60 years, and he's created more jobs than anyone," Logue said of Perry. "That's what people will look for. Even Reagan as governor didn't have that kind of track record as a candidate."

As Perry's campaign ramps up between now and the formal start of the GOP nomination process in early 2012, there could be a role for Logue.

Though he hasn't signed on in an official capacity, Logue said, he's told organizers he's available for anything they might need.

"I think he has a tremendous chance to be the next president," Logue said. "This is going to change the game."