Perry called top donors from work phones

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Time and again, Texas Gov. Rick Perry picked up his office phone in the months before he would announce his bid for the presidency. He dialed wealthy friends who were his big fundraisers and state officials who owed him for their jobs.

Perry also met with a Texas executive who would later co-found an independent political committee that has promised to raise millions to support Perry but is prohibited from coordinating its activities with the governor.

An Associated Press review of Perry?s phone records and daily public schedules reveals a chronology ? at times, minute by minute ? of the governor?s meetings before his campaign launch.

Texas state ethics rules prohibit use of state phones for campaign purposes. Perry officials said the talks were for official business.

The governor?s files also show connections between Perry and many of his early supporters. Those whom Perry called have raised millions for his state campaigns, and he appointed some of them to Texas state jobs. Some were quick to return the favor by donating to his White House campaign.

They included Brint Ryan, a Dallas businessman and University of North Texas regent whom Perry talked with in-person and on Ryan?s cell phone in April, just as buzz swirled of Perry?s presidential ambitions.

Ryan would go on to back Make Us Great Again, a ?super? political action committee that legally is not permitted to coordinate with Perry or his campaign. It?s unclear what Perry and all of his supporters discussed in their conversations. Perry didn?t appear to contact Ryan since his Aug. 13 campaign announcement.