Election 101: 11 questions about Rick Perry and his White House bid

The Texas governor made clear his intention to run for president with appearances in South Carolina and New Hampshire on Saturday and a planned trip to Iowa on Sunday.

9. What is his family and religious background?

Richard Carson/REUTERS
Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks during "The Response", an event billed as a call to prayer for the nation in crisis, at Reliant Stadium in Houston August 6, 2011. Perry will announce on Saturday that he will run for the 2012 Republican nomination for U.S. president, CNN reported on August 11. Picture taken August 6, 2011.

Perry is married to childhood sweetheart Anita Thigpen, with whom he has two children, Griffin and Sydney.

A Methodist, Perry is a self-described social conservative who opposes gay rights, same-sex marriage, and abortion.

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