Dana Davidsen
CNN
(CNN) — Straying from his 2012 campaign trail all-American, no-frills persona, Rick Perry had a new look while making a round of media calls in Washington last week – a trendy pair of thick-rimmed glasses.
But the former presidential candidate’s new specs aren’t all about fashion.
The Texas governor, who is not running for reelection, told Iowa media on Thursday that he’s wearing the glasses now because of deteriorating vision in his left eye.
“An accident as a young man is manifesting itself in my vision, finally,” Perry said. “When I was 17, I was hit in the eye with a rock and miraculously healed, and now it’s manifested itself as a deterioration of eyesight in my left eye.”
Who’s to thank for Perry’s updated look?
“I give credit to my wife — she picked out the frames and I’m learning to wear them,” he said.
Perry’s hipster-esque frames might have caused a stir but what’s keeping him in the headlines is speculation he might launch a second bid for the White House.
Hence, his trip to Iowa — the state that kicks off the presidential primary and caucus voting calendar. He was in Des Moines on Thursday to campaign for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.
If Perry decides to launch another presidential campaign, he’ll have some ground to make up among other potential GOP contenders.
A CNN/ORC poll conducted from January 31 to February 2 shows him with 8 percent support, nearly last on a list of Republican choices for their 2016 nominee.