Arkansas Lawmakers Hop on "Draft Perry" Bandwagon

Somebody tell Assemblyman Dan Logue, the California Republican leading the charge to draft Gov. Rick Perry for president, that his Razorback reinforcements have arrived.

Today, 20 GOP members of the Arkansas House of Representatives announced the formation of an "Arkansans for Rick Perry" group and sent the Texas governor a letter urging him to seek the White House.

"As his neighbors to the northeast, we've taken particular interest in how Gov. Perry has focused on creating economic opportunity for Texans," Arkansas state Rep. David Sanders, R-Little Rock, said in a statement. "We believe he would provide the right kind of leadership for our country during these uncertain economic times and pursue policies that would help put Americans back to work."

Earlier today, Perry told the Tribune that voters are looking for alternatives the current crop of presidential candidates. "People would like to have some other options in the race, obviously,” he said.

That sentiment is made very clear in the letter from the Arkansan lawmakers. "Of the current slate of Republican candidates, both announced and those currently exploring, we do not believe there is one who can better unify our party and take the fight to the Democrats on their old, outdated ideas," they write.

Today, Perry is meeting with local lawmakers on a trip to New York, where such an effort has yet to be officially mobilized.

Here's the full letter from the Arkansans contingent: