One sign that Perry may run: He has quietly been sending invites to a series of dinners. Perry bids for 2016 relevancy

Rick Perry doesn’t want to be forgotten.

The Texas governor, whose 2012 presidential bid famously flamed out after a series of verbal blunders, is making moves to try to keep his name on the radar for a potential national comeback.


His strategy: Curry favor with influential party stalwarts, demonstrate to voters in key Democratic strongholds that he has the answers for how to jump-start the economy and even show a little political leg with a pit stop in Iowa this November.

All this activity comes as Perry is weighing whether he should take another shot at the White House.

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It isn’t a simple calculation. Not only would Perry have to win back the support of those who abandoned his disastrously unsuccessful 2012 run, but he would also have to contend with a new crop of party favorites, like Sens. Rand Paulof Kentucky, Marco Rubio of Florida and a fellow Texan, Sen. Ted Cruz, who are gaining a national following.

Republican strategists say a Perry presidential bid would be uphill but not insurmountable.

“I think expectations would be low on his debate performances, and if he was able to get himself into a position where he was studied and ready to go, that would surprise a lot of people and enhance his chances,” said Matt Schlapp of Cove Strategies, who served as political director to former President George W. Bush. “I think he would also benefit from the fact that there is no obvious front-runner in 2016, that he’s not a creature of Washington, and obviously, he benefits from the fact that he’s from one of the most important fundraising states that you need to conquer to get the nomination.”

Veteran Republican Party operative Fred Malek agreed.

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“Certainly, he could recover from the debate gaffe as we’ve seen Bill Clinton recover from the lengthy speech that he gave as a keynoter of the national convention to become the nominee,” Malek said, referring to the former president’s 1988 speech that was so long that he had to go on “The Tonight Show” to try to stanch the bleeding.

Malek cautioned, however, that inviting people to Austin and traveling around the country doesn’t mean Perry will seek the presidency.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean he is running for anything other than he is thinking through where his future lies,” Malek said.

( WATCH: Rick Perry leaving gov's office, doesn't rule out 2016)

Still, Perry certainly appears to be laying the groundwork to make a potential run possible.

Texas Republican state Chairman Steve Munisteri said it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Perry gets in the race.

“I don’t think he’s been shy about that he has another interest in running for president; he’s been upfront with people about that,” Munisteri said.”Most people have to run two or three times before they get the nomination.”

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One of the strongest signs that Perry is looking beyond Texas for his post-governor life is the invites he has quietly been sending to influential businessmen, veteran political operatives and big-money fundraisers to Austin for a series of dinners.

Longtime Perry confidant Jim Lee, a major donor and bundler for the governor, has been emailing potential attendees, according to a copy of an email obtained by POLITICO.

“We would like to invite you and your spouse to dinner the Governor’s Mansion,” Lee wrote in the note. He further described a similar mansion dinner he and his wife, Amy, attended as a “warm and special experience.” He added that “there will be no ‘asks’ or agenda” and promised “just quality time with the Governor and Mrs. Perry.”

Lee did not respond to an email request for comment.

The invitations to attend dinners began mid-July and have continued with dates in October, according to one source familiar with the requests.

Not everyone is looking to reconnect with Perry as he weighs a 2016 push. Multiple sources said they have waived off attending so as to not already be committed to Perry for the next cycle.

“At this point, I’m not about to go down to Texas and get roped in,” one former Perry supporter said. “It’s nothing personal. God bless the guy for trying, but he embarrassed the hell out of himself and the people who stood up and supported him.”

Perry spokesman Mark Miner downplayed any issues with dinner attendance.

“The response to sit down and talk with the governor has been tremendous, but it’s not involved in any presidential race. It’s involved in talking about the issues facing this country,” Miner said. “He’ll make a decision next year, but he’s going to continue talking about issues important to this country, and at the top of that list are the economy and job creation.”

There is no fundraising involved in the effort, according to Miner.

“This is nothing different than what he has done in the past. He meets with people regularly, and he’s been traveling frequently both in Texas and around the country,” Miner said.

In addition to breaking bread with Republican Party stalwarts, Perry is also crisscrossing the country talking about economic issues and trying to woo big businesses in Democratic strongholds to the Lone Star State.

Recent Perry trips include: Maryland, Missouri, California, Connecticut and New York.

Perry is in Maryland this week in his continued quest to bring business to Texas. Perry’s visit is drawing attention since he’ll be appearing in the Democratic stronghold and on the home turf of Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, another potential 2016 presidential candidate.

Paired with his visit is a nearly $500,000 radio and TV advertising campaign, hammering Maryland’s business environment.

One Republican strategist, who supported Perry’s 2012 presidential bid, described it as a smart move and noted it “also gets his voice on the air in D.C. during drive time.”

Republican fundraiser and lobbyist Matt Keelen, who was a Perry supporter, said he would be open to another run if Perry can articulate how he is going to be different in another race.

“One of the things we were unable to talk about is governing with solid examples. Texas is the biggest one we control, and it’s doing a heck of a lot better in terms of economic activity and future opportunities than the country is,” Keelen said.