AUSTIN -- In his first in-depth interview with Texas media since leaving the campaign trail, Governor Rick Perry seemed to have few regrets.
"Was it trying? Was it difficult? Was it a test? Absolutely, all of the above, but wouldn't trade anything for it," said Perry.
On Tuesday, KVUE News sat in with Dallas sister station WFAA-TV and senior reporter Brad Watson for a debriefing of sorts with the one-time front runner in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. The governor admitted that there were a few things he would have done differently along the campaign trail.
"Got in earlier," Perry said. "I think the preparatory time, surgery the first of July and six weeks later we're in the midst of the presidential election, I would've done some things differently."
"You know you're not given choices a lot of times in life," Perry explained. "I ran because I love my country."
The governor admitted the first round of GOP debates had been difficult, but said he felt more comfortable with his performances towards the end of his campaign. Asked about his infamous "Oops," Perry said it wasn't the most damaging moment of his campaign.
"Look, any of us have forgotten something. I mean the idea that somehow or another -- we're human beings," said Perry.
"I will tell you I don't think that one was as problematic as the immigration issue from my perspective," Perry said, alluding to his support of a decade-old Texas law that allowed undocumented students under certain qualifications to pay in-state tuition at Texas colleges and universities.
"That was a huge error in telling people they didn't have a heart, and frankly that wasn't about a heart issue," Perry said. "It was an economic issue."
It's an economic issue the governor says he continues to stand beside. Perry has consistently left the door open to another shot at the presidency or a fourth term as governor, but stopped short of a commitment to either.
"I don't know what I'm going to do in 2014 yet," said Perry, "But those are all options that I keep on the table."
