AUSTIN, Texas — Former Gov. Rick Perry, who twice ran unsuccessfully for president, is endorsing fellow Texan Ted Cruz’s White House bid.

(Article by Statesman.com, republished from http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/texas/former-texas-gov-perry-endorses-ted-cruzs-white-ho/nqBxW/)

Perry was the longest-serving governor in Texas history. He left office last January under felony indictment for abuse of power related to threatening a veto of state funding for public corruption prosecutors.

Perry’s once-promising 2012 presidential run collapsed after a series of gaffes, and he was the first GOP presidential hopeful to drop out this cycle amid sluggish fundraising.

In a video released Monday by the Cruz campaign, Perry says that, as an Air Force veteran, he believes America deserves a president “who will keep our military strong.”

Cruz is one of the favorites ahead of next week’s Iowa caucuses. A senator since 2013, Cruz didn’t serve personally in the military.

Read more at: http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/texas/former-texas-gov-perry-endorses-ted-cruzs-white-ho/nqBxW/