When evaluating Rick Perry’s 2016 presidential prospects, which should carry more weight? The impressive campaign launch we just saw in Texas, featuring a smooth, confident candidate surrounded by Navy SEALs or the bumbling, stumbling candidate we saw in 2012?

By now everybody knows the story with Perry’s first presidential campaign. While still governor of Texas, he jumped into the Republican primaries late but quickly emerged as the challenger most likely to take down Mitt Romney.