The e-mail from Gene Powell, a real estate executive whom Perry appointed to the University of Texas board of regents, states, “We expect that announcement in a week to ten days” and tells people to start writing checks today.

It is further evidence that Perry is truly ramping up for a presidential campaign, even though a top Perry adviser says the e-mail’s timeframe isn’t hard and fast.

Perry adviser David Carney told the Fix that the no one should read too much into the e-mail, which he says contains some factual inaccuracies.