CHARLESTON, S.C.—Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry said Saturday he was running for the White House, promising to create jobs and diminish the power of the federal government.

Mr. Perry announced his candidacy at a convention here hosted by the RedState web site, which drew hundreds of tea-party and grass-roots conservative activists. The crowd cheered his pledge to put an end to "central planners" in federal government, who he said were overreaching into people's lives.

"I...