Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-396-6974; Ryan Rogge, 703-396-6971; after 6 PM Eastern & on weekends, Bob Sturm, 703-307-8176; Ryan Rogge, 703-674-6948 

MANASSAS, Va., Aug. 13, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, issued the following statement regarding Texas Governor Rick Perry's announcement of his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president:

"Governor Perry's much anticipated announcement that he is running for the Republican nomination brought a wave of relief to conservatives who watched most of the candidates diminish themselves during the Ames, Iowa debate.

"To win the Republican nomination this time, a candidate must do two things.

"First, the candidate must convince GOP primary voters that he or she is a committed conservative. They don't have to be the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan, but they do have to be convincing as the conservative standard bearer.

"Second, that person has to convince Republican primary voters that he or she can defeat Barack Obama.

"A few of the eight candidates on the stage in Ames, Iowa can pass one of those tests. On the day he announced, Rick Perry made it clear he is the only candidate who passes both of them.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation) and one of the "conservatives of the century" (Washington Times). He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.