Republican Rick Perry to make 2012 intentions clear

Texas governor Rick Perry is expected to use a speech in South Carolina Saturday to make clear that he's running for president in 2012.

Politico cites information from two sources "familiar with the plan" by the Texas governor to "remove any doubt about his White House intentions during his appearance at a RedState conference in Charleston."

Reuters also quoted two sources as saying that Perry would "drop a strong hint" at the conservative conference and then travel to New Hampshire, which holds the country's first primary contest early next year.

Perry is then expected to head to Iowa, Politico reports, adding that a Perry run would "send shock waves through the race" according to Politico. 

This Saturday, the Ames straw poll, which tests the strength of Republicans candidates in Iowa, is held. The Iowa caucuses in February will be the first election contest of the 2012 election.

Perry's decision to make an announcement regarding 2012 at the same time as the poll is, according to the Iowa Independent, "not only strategic, but a direct nod to volunteers who have been beating the Iowa ground on his behalf."

Perry is not on the straw poll ballot because he was not an announced candidate when the contest was organized.

Tea Party conservative candidate Michelle Bachmann is leading polls in Iowa.