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And Then There Were Four: Rick Perry Ends White House Bid

Rick Perry ends his presidential campaign due to lack of support from voters and calls from the GOP establishment to drop out of the race.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who entered the Republican presidential nominating race on such a high, announced Thursday morning plans to suspend his campaign, two days before the primary in South Carolina, where he’s been polling in the single digits. He also endorsed former House speaker Newt Gingrich.

 

“I have come to the conclusion that this is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign. Therefore I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich for president of the United States,” Perry said. “I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country.”

Perry previously considered dropping out after earning a disappointing fifth place in Iowa earlier this month. But after some reflection, the Texas lawmaker decided to carry on, skipping the New Hampshire primary to focus instead on South Carolina, where he’d hoped to leverage his Southern roots to regain momentum.

Although his debate performances, which in the past included several gaffes and largely helped to derail his presidential bid, have improved, Perry failed to make much traction with Republican voters. In addition, several GOP pundits have called for him to get out of the race and he’s lost a number of key supporters. His exit could help Gingrich significantly. In recent days the Georgia lawmaker seems to be experiencing a second wind and is closing the gap on frontrunner Mitt Romney in South Carolina.

 

“South Carolinians have a chance this Saturday to nominate a bold Reagan conservative who will offer a dramatic contrast with President Obama this fall in the general election,” Gingrich said in a statement released after Perry’s announcement. I ask the supporters of Gov. Perry to look at my record of balancing the budget, cutting spending, reforming welfare, and enacting pro-growth policies to create millions of new jobs and humbly ask for their vote.”


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(Photo:  Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

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