Rick Perry: Late-term abortion ban "is going to pass"

For Texan legislators seeking to restrict abortion rights, Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, believes the second time's a charm.

After a filibuster in the Texas state legislature successfully blocked the passage of a bill banning late-term abortions in June, Perry said Sunday he's confident abortion opponents will score a victory when the legislature reconvenes on Monday.

"This is going to pass," Perry said during an interview on "Fox News Sunday." "I'm pretty good at counting votes."

He blamed the bill's initial failure on "mob rule," chastising abortion rights supporters who stormed the Texas statehouse to voice their opposition to the bill and support state senator Wendy Davis, the Democrat who led the filibuster.

"Nothing like that has ever happened in Texas history," Perry said. "It was the gallery that was out of control, literally out of control."

He said he expects Lt. Gov David Dewhurst, also a Republican, to keep a tighter hold on the reins when the legislature resumes debate on the matter.

After the abortion bill and the filibuster became national news, Perry came under fire for saying it was "unfortunate" that Davis, a single mother, hadn't "learned from her own example that every life must be given a chance to reach its full potential," but the Texas Republican defended himself on Sunday, saying he was only commending Davis' record of accomplishment.

"Those comments were meant to be a compliment to her for what she's accomplished in her life," he said. "You never know who's going to be considered to be an extraordinary individual."

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Perry, who mounted an ill-fated bid for the presidency in 2008, is deciding whether to run for reelection in 2014 and has publicly entertained the idea of throwing his hat back into the presidential ring in 2016. He refused to provide a glimpse into his political future on Sunday.

"Tomorrow in San Antonio, I will announce my plans," he said.

As for another presidential bid? "Certainly, that's an option," he said.

Perry's last bid ran aground after a series of embarrassing debate performances. At one forum in November 2011, Perry failed to recall the third of three government agencies he proposed closing, offering a sheepish "oops" in place of an answer.