RGA will decide how much to get involved in Ky. after primary, chairman says

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is chairman of the Republican Governors Association, said the organization is closely watching Kentucky as a key battleground and bellwether for 2012 but won’t decide what resources to spend until after the May 17 GOP primary.

Perry was in Kentucky over the weekend as the keynote speaker at the Republican Party of Kentucky’s statewide Lincoln Day Dinner in Louisville. Perry said in an interview with Pure Politics on Saturday that he plans to return this summer.

The Republican primary for governor features three candidates: state Senate President David Williams, Louisville businessman Phil Moffett and Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw.

“I’ve got a really good feeling about all the men and women who are running,” Perry said.

Perry’s state of Texas has no state income tax. And he said Kentucky needs to improve its tax and business climate.

“You’ve got an unemployment rate that’s way up there, substantially higher than the rest of the country. And you’re running people out of the state,” he said.

Perry also said he was “not a candidate” for the Republican nomination for president.

“No, I am not going to run,” he said.

- Ryan Alessi with video produced by Kenny Colston