Rick Perry pets dogs, greets fans in Greenville

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry strolled down Greenville’s Main Street greeting fans and petting dogs as he finished a day of campaigning in South Carolina.

The Republican White House hopeful bent down time and again to pet dogs during his walk Friday, including a lab that reclined for a good stomach rubbing. Perry ducked into a canine bakery, where the owner loaded him up with a gift bag of treats to take back to Texas.

Along the way, Perry stopped to give autographs — including on a young girl’s cast — and even chatted with an eager fan’s wife on a cell phone.

It was Perry’s first day back in early-primary South Carolina after announcing his bid for the GOP nomination last week. He’ll finish the day at a campaign fundraiser.