Perry expected to join 2012 race soon

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AUSTIN, Texas, July 26 (UPI) -- Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been meeting with GOP lawmakers and rainmakers as he decides whether to run to be the party's presidential candidate.

This week, Perry is meeting in Austin with elected officials from across the country, as well as hosting a group of national donors, Politico reported Tuesday.

"So many people want to do these, we've had to add additional dates," said Dave Carney, Perry's top political strategist.

Perry also invited some GOP national security officials to the Texas capital for a briefing and attended a dinner with a group of major Texas and out-of-state contributors. He has traveled out of state to prepare for a run, including a five-city tour in California, and attended a Republican Governors Association meeting in Aspen, Colo.

Potential donors for the campaign met in Austin July 18, and sources told RealClearPolitics.com that key players at the meeting say Perry will be announcing a campaign between Aug. 15 and Aug. 31.

Many Republican voters appear pleased with the potential nomination; polls released Friday indicated Perry in a tie for first place with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Meanwhile, an ad urging Iowans to write in Perry's name on the Ames straw poll ballot will begin airing in the Ames area, Perry supporters said.

The ad, developed by GroPAC, a group formed by former New York Senate candidate David Malpass, says Iowans can "turn things around" while urging straw poll voters to write in Perry's name because "he can win and make America secure again," Politico reported.

While Iowa GOP officials decided not to include Perry's name on the straw poll ballot, they allowed a write-in space that so voters can indicate their support for Perry.