Rick Perry to Make Clear He Intends to Run

DES MOINES — Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is preparing to make clear his intentions to join the Republican presidential race, two associates said, by visiting South Carolina and New Hampshire on Saturday — the same day several of his potential rivals are taking part in the Iowa Straw Poll.

Mr. Perry, who has been inching closer to declaring his candidacy for weeks, is expected to stop short of making a formal announcement. But appearing before Republican crowds in the two early-voting states was intended to clear up any lingering questions about his plans.

“With President Obama’s dismal economic record and Texas’ success in creating jobs and balancing our budget, Governor Perry continues to consider a potential run for The White House,” said Mark Miner, a spokesman for Mr. Perry, who declined to elaborate on the timing of any announcement. “Stay tuned.”

The decision by Mr. Perry is likely to roil the Republican presidential nominating contest. His actions were first reported by Politico on Monday afternoon.

Mr. Perry is expected to visit Iowa as soon as next week, a Republican official said. A draft movement has been under way in the state for weeks, with admirers of Mr. Perry recruiting supporters across Iowa, whose caucuses open the Republican nominating contest early next year.

For weeks, Mr. Perry has been calling party activists and Republican officials in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, trying to build support for his candidacy. He also has been working to line up a fund-raising operation that could compete with his rival Republicans, particularly Mitt Romney, who has significantly outpaced the rest of the field.

Henry Barbour, a member of the Republican National Committee from Mississippi, has been among the party leaders visiting Austin in recent weeks to urge Mr. Perry to run.

“Governor Perry is authentic, a truth-teller and a job-creating machine in Texas,” said Mr. Barbour, whose uncle is Mississippi’s Republican governor, Haley Barbour. “And it sure helps to come from a big donor state like Texas, if you are going to run for president. He will be able to raise the money to compete with Romney.”