2nd presidential bust may end Rick Perry’s political career

By WILL WEISSERT
Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Rick Perry spent four years after his 2012 presidential collapse trying to ensure that “Oops” wouldn’t be the final word on his political career.

It didn’t work.

For the 2016 race, the longest-serving governor in Texas history swapped cowboy boots for eyeglasses, hit the road again, promoted his state’s job-creating prowess and boned up with policy experts.

He promised this would be a humbler, better prepared candidate, ready for the national spotlight.

Now, barely three months after Perry announced presidential bid No. 2, that reboot is history.

And so, it seems, is the political career he was trying to make over.

Perry dropped out of the race Friday.

He hasn’t formally announced his retirement. But he’s talked wistfully about heading back to his new home in the Texas countryside

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