Rick Perry says he's nearing decision on presidential race

The Texas governor told the Des Moines Register -- the largest newspaper in the leadoff nominating state -- that he's two to three weeks away from making a decision.

That timeframe puts him on track for an announcement in the first weeks of August, a time when the announced Republican contenders will be barnstorming Iowa ahead of the Ames Straw Poll, one of the nominating race's major cattle calls.