The Midday Brief: Aug. 24, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Shortly after announcing his official candidacy, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has emerged as rank-and-file Republicans' current favorite for their party's 2012 presidential nomination. Twenty-nine percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents nationwide say they are most likely to support Perry, with Mitt Romney next, at 17%." — Perry Zooms to Front of Pack for 2012 GOP Nomination, Gallup

• "In PPP's first national poll since Rick Perry's official entry into the Presidential race he's jumped out to a double digit advantage. Perry's at 33% to 20% for Mitt Romney, 16% for Michele Bachmann, 8% for Newt Gingrich, 6% for Herman Cain and Ron Paul, 4% for Rick Santorum, and 3% for Jon Huntsman." — Perry leads nationally, Public Policy Polling

• "Among other reasons, Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe told a home-state Chamber of Commerce audience Wednesday that he can’t get behind the GOP’s presumed presidential front-runner. Inhofe said he 'likes Mitt Romney, but he's a little mushy on environmental issues.' Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, is planning to formally endorse Perry next week, the Tulsa World reported Wednesday." — Jim Inhofe backs Rick Perry over 'mushy' Mitt Romney, Politico

• "The Obama campaign team is asking Texans to share complaints about Gov. Rick Perry, and compiling the critiques for possible use in Perry-bashing ads and other material — a sure sign the president's advisers are taking no chances." — Obama team scouts for anti-Perry Texans, Trail Blazers

• "The Texas governor has added his name to the list of candidates signing the Susan B. Anthony List's strict anti-abortion pledge, checking a box with social conservatives that distinguishes him from top rival Mitt Romney." — Rick Perry signs Susan B. Anthony List pledge, Politico

• "Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, seeking to boost his Republican bid for U.S. Senate, is using reverse psychology on reporters: Please, please pin me down on the details, Leppert seems to be saying. On Wednesday, Leppert, as if to prove he's the former McKinsey Co. business consultant that he is, released a detailed manifesto on government spending, taxes and regulations. He said his proposals would kick-start the economy." — Leppert goes into detail on entitlement fixes, tax overhauls he favors, Trail Blazers

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "DAY 24 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: The state is preparing to enforce more stringent voter ID requirements." — 31 Days, 31 Ways: Stringent Voter ID Law Means Changes at the Polls