Rick Perry thinks GOP voters want more 2012 ‘options’

As he openly considers a 2012 presidential bid, Rick Perry says he believes voters want more "options in the race."

In an interview with the Texas Tribune's Jay Root, the Texas governor insists he's genuinely undecided about the race, but says plenty of Republicans are urging him to launch a bid.

"It's pretty interesting," Perry replied when asked about all the national political stories being written about him. "People would like to have some other options in the race, obviously."

The governor, who is in New York tonight to speak at a high-profile fundraising dinner, says he believes he has plenty of time to make a decision whether or not to run.

"I'm nowhere near ready to say I'm giving it anything past, just, listening to what people have to say," Perry told the Tribune. "I wouldn't put it too far into any type of formative thought process."

On a related note, Politico's Maggie Haberman reports that Perry is set to have breakfast tomorrow with Rudy Giuliani, who is considering a second run for the GOP nomination. Perry was a major backer of Giuliani's 2008 White House bid.

(Photo of Perry: Richard Vogel/AP)