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NORTH CHARLESTON, SC -- Just over five months after his campaign began, Texas Gov. Rick Perry today exited the presidential race and endorsed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
"I know when it's time to make a strategic retreat, so I will leave the trail and return home to Texas and wind down my 2012 campaign organization," the governor said in a cramped hotel ballroom here at a hastily-called press conference.
"As I have contemplated the future of this campaign, I have come to the conclusion that there is no viable path to victory for my candidacy in 2012," he said.
Spokesman Ray Sullivan told reporters that Perry made the decision to drop out late yesterday and alerted some senior staff last night. (Sullivan found out while eating at a Charleston area Wendy's.) His determination came as multiple conservative commentators were calling for his exit, and as several key endorsers in the state defected from his campaign.
Announcing his endorsement of Gingrich -- whom he had criticized during the campaign as a "Washington insider" and supporter of the individual mandate -- Perry alluded to the former speaker's checkered personal past.
"Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?" Perry said. "The fact is there is forgiveness for those who seek God, and I believe in the power of redemption, for it is a central tenet of my own Christian faith."
Perry -- himself an evangelical Christian who proudly cites that he married the first woman he dated as a young man -- was joined at the press conference by his wife Anita, his son Griffin, and "Lone Survivor" author and decorated veteran Marcus Luttrell and his wife.
"Now the journey leads us back to Texas, neither discouraged nor disenchanted, but instead rewarded for the experience and resolute to remain in the arena and in the service of a great nation," Perry said.
As did his decision to remain in the race after the Iowa caucuses, today's decision came as a surprise to many members of his staff on the ground, who believed that Perry might want to appear at one last redeeming debate after becoming famous for his shaky performances early in his run.
Sullivan said on Wednesday that Perry has not ruled out a run for re-election in Texas nor another run for president in 2016.
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Rick Perry's campaign had gone down in flames long before his belated acknowledgement that he ought to give up the race. He was polling under 5 percent in South Carolina, so there is little chance of a shocking movement in the polls among Perry refugees. But Governor Oops' prayerful decision to withdraw marks another smack at Mitt Romney and the GOP establishment's attempt to anoint Mitt as the de facto party nominee. Conservatives are slowly being forced to coalesce around a non-Romney alternative, and with Santorum having actually won Iowa, things may not be so rosy for the Mittster. http://www.sunstateactivist.org
Dang! Now who will we make fun of?
I wish this had happened to the last Texan who ran for president.
Double damn. Suppose we gotta take him back unless Texas secedes before makes it back. We can just refuse to issue him a visa.
We lose a lot of chuckle opportunities and now he wants to turn Texas into a state more backward than Mississippi that was at least smart enough to reject the notion of "conception birth".
Many Texans feel that Cowboy Perry damaged the image of the state with his national exposure.
...and they would be right to feel that way, LOYALTEXAN.
So Ricky's on his way home now...I'll keep the Lone Star State in my prayers.
Couldn't he have stayed away just a bit long? As I've heard said about Perry:
1. The only politician alive that makes George W. look brilliant;
2. (When he was discussing how President Obama acted as if he was the smartest man in the room and the troubles that caused) When Rick Perry is in a room by himself and someone else walks in, Rick's chances of being the smartest guy in the room plummet precipitously; and
3. I, uuummm, errr, well ... oops!
Perry's splash (more like "splat") on the national stage cemented far too many people's image of the Lone Star. It will be interesting, especially given his horrible performances in multiple debates, if he chooses to run for governor again here in Texas. I'm sure any Republican and Democratic opponent will call him out and ridicule him if he refuses (like with White).
As we say, "all hat, no cowboy" and finally some people are waking up to that realization. It used to be that when discussing Perry the consensus was that a village somewhere was missing its idiot. I guess Rick aims to solve that by coming back.
Don't worry Ricky you can still be President of the Republic of Texas just as soon as they cecede (again).
Who the heck has been running the Governor's office all the time Rick has been out of the state anyway?
Now Paint Creek will have their village idiot back. They should be so proud.
Only until his Term is done. The Fine Folks of Texas have seen thier Dear Leader embarass them on the National stage & won't stand for it whenever the Next Govenors election is held.
Ole Rick will do alright for himself!
Occupy SoggyBottom!
Maybe the Democrats can slip one in when the Republicans aren't looking.
Like another Ann Richards, maybe.
Oh, come on. You really think he acutally ran the office while he was there. Remember he is driven by a DEVINE hand so that must mean that the state of Texas was left in the hands of God while he was gone.
...and relative obscurity...
And no respect. No respect at all. Right, "Dangerfield"?
I hope Newt has Rick, Sarah, and Todd campaign for him. I mean, who wouldn't want the Three Stooges supporting you for the most prestigious job in the world?
I remember the original cast of Saturday Night Live. That first season it was actually called NBC's Saturday Night because ABC had a live show with Howard Cosell on earlier in primetime which was called, unsurprisingly, Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell. Cosell had a skecth comic group called "The Prime Time Players" (ironically, Bill Murray was one of them). So Lorne Michaels decided to call his group "The Not Ready for Prime Time Players", and the rest is history.
Well, this year's field must be the sequel. Michelle Bachman, Herman Cain, and Rick Perry definitely all fell into the category of "Not Ready for Prime Time". I don't know as much about Huntsman. Was it his message, the fact that he is somewhat charisma challenged, or the combination? I tend to think that it was the message -- "moderation" is not what sells anymore to primary voters.
At least to Repuclican primary voters.
Perry was a class guy and a true patriot! I've seen him speak several times and on each occassion he was engaging, funny, and very eloquent! But in the first few debates he was nervous and tight, and made some uncharacteristic mistakes.... and unfortunately dug himself into a hole he couldn't get out of... especially in the 'take no prisoner' style of the debates and the remarkable efforts of the old liberal media to destroy any candidate who presumes to usurp the 'annoited one'! Leave it to the wacko liberal media to turn the political process into a circus!
And now we get to hear from Gingrich's 2nd wife! Classic liberal journalism, lol. I seem to remember the NY Times and other media entities had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the Johnny "Boy" Edwards scandal of blatantly cheating on his sick wife! The olm largely ignored that story, even though Edwards was at the time the leading candidate for the democrats..... nice opening for Harry Reid to insert his project into the mix.... Mr neighborhood organizer, Barry Obama! lmao!
Perry's endorsement of Gingrich will turn the SC vote into a horse race between Gingrich and Romney. I've always liked Newt, one of the smartest politicians around, but maybe a little too much baggage.... a debate between Newt and Obama would be the quickest way to prevent a second term for the BO! Just think, with him out of office there will no longer be any roadblocks to find out more about his true background. Maybe then Michelle's college thesis will be found! Wouldn't that be nice?
Oh please, Perry is as dumb as a post.
Why is it whenever there is the slightest criticizm of a politician it is all the fault of the "liberal media"? Is Fox covering this at all? If so than they must also be "liberal" media.
If Rick Perry is a classy guy he didn't show it. Perhaps he just isn't ready to be POTUS. Gingrich created his own baggage not the media. They are merely reporting it just as they would if a Democrat had such baggage. When Gingrich went after Clinton for his daliances with the bimbos the media was on it non-stop but that was alright for some but dare do the same to a rightie and wellll that just is bias and unfair. Such hypocrisy!!
A true patriot who threatened to secede? A classy guy who vacationed at a ranch named after a racial slur? Perry is an idiot and he's been able to hide that from us Texans for too long.
He won re-election by spending millions to trash the reputation of our Senior Senator and refusing to debate his opponent. His ill-informed campaign has pulled back the curtain. He embarrassed himself and our great state. He's toast in Texas and on the national stage.
wow such hypocrisy and nonsense from the libbies.....! Still filled with blinding hate and unable to see the whole picture, incapable of unbiased thought! Perfect clones for those who promote dependency on big government, eh? I am very happy to be on the other side!
Rub
Please explain how comparing your candidate to a dastardly politician who is not on the SC ballot is pertinent to any informed exchange of ideas. You could just as easily pick Larry Craig (at least Newter doesn't cruise for gay sex in public bathrooms) or Mark Sanford (at least he doesn't lie to his official staff and sneak out of the country to consort with a foreign soul mate).
A race to the bottom of the pit of immorality does not enhance meaningful discussion.
Here's the deal, LOYAL. If you have a moral trangression and you're an active Democrat, then it is obvious that your private life has no correlation to your ability to serve the public and should be overlooked, or if anything, actually embraced as it just serves to enhance your ability to relate to ordinary people. Conversely, if you are a Republican, your moral transgressions define you and render you unable to render any meaningful service to anyone and a grave danger to the body politic.
The easy response to this is, "Well, what do you expect when you sell yourself as the party of 'family values?'" While there is some truth to this, it is older than that. Would be relatively sure that more people have heard about Ike and Kate than FDR and Lucy, and that stuff is pretty old (in both cases) at this point.
'LoyalTexan', pretty weak point you are trying to make, especially considering the history of liberal democrats that reeks of scandal and criminal activities! "Those who live in glass houses.... yada, yada"
Compiled by Thomas George
L.Texan.... don't give up your day job, lol!
All that work for what? Politicians are a smarmy lot? Who knew?
Corruption knows no Race, religion, sex, or political party. Some other jerk could make a meaningless long list of Republicans and what would it prove beyond the fact that you and they have waaay too much time on your hands?
Would their list have any meaning to you?
Nice list RotG, actually more of a rogues list! You left out Weiner the NJ Rep who resigned after tweeting nude photos of himself to one too many ladies!
That resignation ruined a favorite bumper sticker I had in mind "WEINER-HOLDER 2012". Guess I just have to settle for BO STINKS IN ANY YEAR! lol
Uh, NO!!!!! There was plenty of coverage of Edwards. You apparently want selective journalism to go along with selective memory!!
Alright Sarah, it's time for your medication now. Wouldn't want those voices from above to keep you awake at night worrying about the ol commie liberal media and their demon seed poisoning the water and making life soo hard for good old Umerrcun patriots like Mr. Oops and his eloquence. Have a glass of water dear and get your tightwad panties unbunched.
Perry reminds me of a guy I worked with in Texas who told me it didn't mean that much for him to be an American, but he sure was proud to be a Texan! Same kind of insular and arrogant attitude.
He obviously wasn't ready for Prime Time.
Come on! Governor Perry takes LOTS of prisoners! And then he fries them.
The media destroyed Perry's candidacy? I don't think so. Perry did it all by himself.
Hello. Perry lost bcs he was late in filing his paperwork in too many states.
happy trails to you, hope we never meet again
Well he finally lost his first election .lol
So here's a guy who has been aggressively pushing for Congressional term limits and, with tail between his legs, he now wants go back to Texas to run for yet ANOTHER term as governor? Why doesn't he just appoint himself "governor for life"; he certainly will never again be taken seriously for any office outside of Texas.
I think he will be surprised when he finds out he is going to be arrested for impersonating a Governor
Memo to Perry: Don't come back - you've made Texas look bad trying to fool the nation. Stay in South Carolina.
Well the Mad-Hatter called it quits. Gingrich wants the US to be more like Sweden. Romney wants Americans to be more like Perry and forget everything. Santorum wants the US to ban contraception; how will he know? Paul is a skinflint and is completely against the twentieth century. That's the Republican field and they are sticking to it. My problem is that they might stick it to us!
Not related, but have you heard that the Charlotte, NC city council has ordered the downtown transit center relocated during the democrat convention in order to protect the attendees from blacks who frequent the transit center. It is a shame that the democrat mayor, a black and the democrat majority city council have so little respect for the black citizens of Charlotte. It is a shame, also, if the black citizens of Charlotte cannot be trusted to enjoy the downtown without resorting to criminal activities.
I think it was done to keep the right wing nut jobs out
Let's make everybody happy by moving the U.S. border north of Texas, and using the first 1,000 yards north of it for military training bombing runs. That will also keep our Air Force and bombs home where they belong.
After being replaced as Franklin Roosevelt's Vice-President, Texan John Nance Garner swore that he'd never cross the Brazos River again. At the time of his death in the mid-60's, I read a statement that he'd been a man of his word and never left Texas again. God, I hope Perry makes the same commitment!!!