new york rick perry propose eliminate u.s. energy department unsuccessful bid 2012 republican presidential nomination emerge lead candidate head agency president-elect donald trump transition official say sunday democratic u.s. senators heidi heitkamp north dakota joe manchin west virginia also run job trump continue fill key position administration ahead take office jan. 20 accord official speak condition anonymity perry serve governor texas lead oil-producing state 2000 succeed president george w. bush 2015. two unsuccessful presidential run tout record job creation second-most-populous state perry proposal scrap energy department cause become know oops moment november 2011 debate could remember departments want eliminate three agencies government get go commerce education um third one let see perry say debate adversaries try prod memory perry ultimately give say third one sorry oops energy department responsible u.s. energy policy oversee nation nuclear weapons program perry also run 2016 presidential nomination trump drop september 2015 gain little traction perry initially fierce critic trump late endorse trump call people choice july 2015 perry say let one mistake donald trump candidacy cancer conservatism must clearly diagnose excise discard perry get job would indication incoming trump administration may friendly toward fossil fuel industry trump set pick u.s. representative cathy mcmorris rodgers climate-change skeptic advocate expand oil gas development head interior department trump pick environmental protection agency oklahoma attorney general scott pruitt ardent opponent president barack obama measure curb climate change sue epa block bid undo key regulation curb greenhouse gas emissions mainly coal-fired power plant trump expect name rex tillerson chief executive oil giant exxon mobil corp secretary state rick perry lead candidate u.s. energy post source