Current Governor of Texas, Rick Perry is the newest Republican nominee for 2012 US presidential election. Perry made his announcement last August 13, 2011. He used to be a democrat and was even one Al Gore’s campaign chairmen in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries.  The following year however, Perry joined the Republican party. He served as Agricultural Commissioner from 1990 to 1998 and made significant changes by promoting Texas produce nationally and internationally. Perry ran for lieutenant governor of Texas against John Sharp and won just by a small margin. He began serving as lieutenant governor in 1999 then became governor of the state of Texas in 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to prepare for his presidential inauguration.