Associated Press Published

Former Texas Gov. Perry Heading to State for Events

RIck Perry

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry will headline a Charleston fundraiser for Senate President Bill Cole’s Republican bid for West Virginia governor.

Cole campaign spokesman Kent Gates says it’s one of three West Virginia events Perry will attend May 31.

Gates says the other two include an energy forum and a fundraiser for the state Republican Party.

Initially, Cole scheduled a fundraiser for Wednesday. He rescheduled it because of the ongoing session to craft a long-overdue state budget. There’s still no resolution on the task.

The campaign for Cole’s Democratic opponent, billionaire businessman Jim Justice, criticized Cole and beckoned him to cancel the original Wednesday fundraiser. The state Democratic Party bought robo-calls encouraging people to ask Cole to cancel it.

Gates says the fundraiser was rescheduled before Democratic criticisms.