Steph Solis, and Eliza Collins

USA TODAY

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry went from being one of Donald Trump's most bitter opponents to a member of the presumptive GOP nominee's growing support base.

Perry, one of several former GOP presidential hopefuls, told CNN's Dana Bash that while Trump is not his ideal choice, he will nonetheless do whatever he can to support the presumptive Republican nominee.

"He is not a perfect man. But what I do believe is that he loves this country and he will surround himself with capable, experienced people and he will listen to them," Perry said.

This comes just hours after House Speaker Paul Ryan, a 2012 vice presidential candidate, said he was not yet ready to support Trump. Trump would need to unify the Republican Party to get his vote.

Paul Ryan says he's not ready to back Trump

Bash asked if he’d be open to being his running mate and Perry responded: “"I am going to be open to any way I can help. I am not going to say no.”

"He is one of the most talented people who has ever run for the president I have ever seen," Perry added.

Perry didn’t always have such warm feelings for Trump. In July, when he was still in the presidential race, Perry gave an entire speech calling the billionaire "a cancer on conservatism."

Some have suggested to Perry that he run as a third-party candidate. He dismissed that notion as "quixotic," according to CNN.

"I believe in the process, and the process has said Donald Trump will be our nominee," Perry said, "and I'm going to support him and help him and do what I can."