President Joe Biden has divided the nation and made it a “really dark time for America,” so Republicans need to lay out a “really bright, positive vision,” said former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

“What we have today is midnight in America,” Perry said Wednesday during an appearance on Newsmax’s “John Bachman Now.”

“Biden’s dividing us. … We’re on an economic decline. The world is looking at us and laughing. Our allies are running away from us. This is a dark time for America, that’s for sure. And we need to lay out this bright, thoughtful, positive vision for America and for the world.”

[That’s what made Tim Scott’s launch stand out. We’ll see if Ron DeSantis can deliver on that quality, too. — Ed]