Rick Perry Says GOP Didn't Win White House in 2008 or 2012 Because Candidates Were Too Moderate

Perhaps still a little sore from his 2012 primary campaign

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Texas Gov. Rick Perry argued during an annual conservative confab on Thursday that Republicans failed to win the White House in 2008 and 2012 because they didn't nominate sufficiently conservative candidates.

In an apparent jab at 2008 nominee John McCain and 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, Perry said President Barack Obama's election and re-election isn't a sign that conservatism is dying – but a sign that Republicans nominated people who weren't conservative enough.