FIRST ON CNN: Sources: Perry dropping out of GOP race
Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) - Rick Perry is telling supporters that he will drop his bid Thursday for the Republican presidential nomination, two sources familiar with his plans told CNN.
The Texas governor will make the announcement before the CNN debate in South Carolina, the sources said.
Tune in Thursday at 8 p.m. ET for the CNN/Southern Republican Presidential Debate hosted by John King and follow it on Twitter at #CNNDebate. For real-time coverage of the South Carolina primary, go to CNNPolitics.com or to the CNN apps or CNN mobile web site.
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The move comes two days before the South Carolina primary and hours before the final debate ahead of the voting, which will take place on CNN Thursday night.
The campaigns of Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum reached out to the Perry campaign Thursday morning in an "aggressive effort" to get his endorsement, according to a source close to Perry.
Perry will indicate his support for Newt Gingrich but will not explicitly endorse him, a source with knowledge of Perry's decision told CNN.
To follow the latest developments on Perry, follow the Ticker's update here.
Perry placed fifth in Iowa and last in New Hampshire - a state in which he did not actively compete - and had said he would launch a bid to win in South Carolina.
"South Carolinians are looking for a conservative candidate that will get this country back working again and I am it," Perry told CNN last week.
On Wednesday, CNN asked Perry about a poll that showed him with only 6% support among likely voters in the South Carolina primary.
He insisted he was continuing with the effort to have a strong showing in the state.
"We're convinced that that's our goal, so the idea that we're going to do anything else, other than try to impact this election is - that's why we got in it. We didn't get in it because it was our purpose in life to be the president of the United States. We did it because it was our purpose to serve this country, and that's what we've been called for, and that's what we're going to continue doing."
When Perry entered the race in August, he immediately did well in the polls. But a series of gaffes, particularly at debates against his rivals, sent his support plummeting.
On Thursday, his campaign website continued to say "help Rick Perry win South Carolina and get America back on track."
Perry's official campaign Facebook page was filled with posts, largely from disappointed voters.
- CNN's Josh Levs contributed to this report.
Also see:
Polls: South Carolina primary tightening hours before crucial debate
Gingrich as compares Romney's 'desperate' attacks to 2008 campaign
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Good...go back to Texas...gos knows you screwed that state up!
won't be missed
im so sorry
THANK YOU!!!! This was beginning to look too much like a BUSH presidential term!
Excuse me..should have read God knows...
He's about 3 months too late.
Darn, There goes the comic relief. Now the "Conservatives" of SC have fewer choices and a better chance at beating Mitt of Mass
Romney must be furious, he was PROMISED the nomination by the GOP establishment. Why the heck do all these insignificant people get a say?
I wonder if his first post-election-bid foreign visit will be to Turkey
Didn't he say just the other day that he'd drop out when pigs fly or something?
And now the people of Texas has seen how stupid/dumb he is, he may have a hard time keeping his day job in Texas.
Good riddance
Thank GOD rick perry has dropped out. That buffoon never had a chance. What an embarrassment. Actually the republican party is an embarrassment too. Ugggh!
-Houston, Tx.
Goodbye, adios, farewell and next time dont call us....we'll call you.
He should go back to Texas and do good. We had enough people from Texas ruin teh United States of America and we do not need another. Johnson killed Kennedy, Bush, Bush started two wars and set America on the way of decline to third world status. These are all people who enriched themselfs by ruining America.
He'll likely not get elected to anything ever again.
Seldom has there been a candidate so amazingly unprepared for the office of president as Gov.Perry. I would think he is giving the state of Texas tremendous pause at just how unprepared he really was on the national stage and doubtless any reasoned person would be shocked at his total lack of perceived interest in global events, poltical protocal, understanding or our Judiciary and fundamental ability to articulate cohesive and well reasoned responses to the most basic questions asked in the past 400 or so past debates. His most telling short coming was a desperate play to appeal to the hard core right wing element of the party. It was vulgar and unbecoming to the ideals of the character of the office.
He went into this campaign having never lost an election. He should have kept it that way. He will never live this humiliating defeat down.
Another one bites the dust..Hey! Hey!...
Sorry to see another contender leave the field. We need the candidates feet to the fire of true conservatism to keep them on the right Path to Restoring our Republic.
Oh thank goodness!! It is about time. Now maybe we can get him out as governor and focus on getting Texans back to work and actually putting educators back on the school board and teach our children.
Now there is only one candidate left with executive experience. Please think long and hard before sending another legislator into the White House. We don't need another legislator. We need an executive.
There is also only one candidate left who has not worked in DC. The ones in DC are part of the problem. They have been for years. Vote for the outsider!
My 2nd and 3rd choices are gone. Mitt, you're my last hope for turning this country around!
Dang, now he's going to come back to TX and sit around here. 🙁
Now if only God would tell the others to drop out.
He has no choice, after walking through the field of fresh cowpies barefoot and blindfolded.