• Rick Perry announces withdrawal from GOP presidential race

    Texas Governor Rick Perry announced Thursday morning that he is dropping out of the presidential race and is endorsing Newt Gingrich for the Republican nomination.

    David Goldman / AP

    Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry pauses during a news conference in North Charleston, S.C., on Thursday, Jan. 19, where he announced he is suspending his campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich. His son Griffin is at left.

    Read the full story from NBC's FirstRead here.

    Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA

    Rick Perry waits to greet Iowans at the Santa Maria Vineyard and Winery in Carroll, Iowa, on Jan 2, 2012.

    Slideshow: A look at Gov. Rick Perry's political career

    Mark Lambie / El Paso Times via AP

    The nation's longest-serving current governor is eyeing a presidential run.

    Launch slideshow

     

    Comment

    Show more
    Explore related topics: , ,

  • Perry meets South Carolina voters ahead of the next primary

    David Goldman / AP

    Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry waits to be introduced at a campaign stop at the Hilton Head Diner, Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, in Hilton Head, S.C.

    David Goldman / AP

    Mary Amonitti of Hilton Head, S.C., asks a question to Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry during a campaign stop at the Hilton Head Diner, Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, in Hilton Head, S.C.

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

    After Perry lost an important South Carolina backer, he's changed the focus of his attacks to Obama rather than Mitt Romney on the campaign trail today at a diner in Hilton Head. NBC's Mark Murray breaks down where all the campaign money is being spent in the Palmetto state.

    The South Carolina Republican primary is Jan. 21.  It will take 1,144 delegates to win the nomination at the Republican national convention this summer. So far, Perry has collected no delegates.

    Slideshow: A look at Gov. Rick Perry's political career

    Mark Lambie / El Paso Times via AP

    The nation's longest-serving current governor and his presidential run.

    Launch slideshow

     

  • A long night in Iowa

    Charlie Riedel / AP

    Rick Santorum, center, looks over caucus returns with campaign staff in his hotel room on Jan. 3, 2012, in Johnston, Iowa.

    Charles Dharapak / AP

    Supporters of Mitt Romney watch caucus returns at his caucus night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 3, 2012.

    Chris Carlson / AP

    Newt Gingrich speaks during his caucus night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 3, 2012.

    Evan Vucci / AP

    Rick Perry is greeted by supporters after speaking on caucus night on Jan. 3, 2012, in West Des Moines, Iowa.

    Michael O'Brien of msnbc.com reports on the results of the Iowa caucuses:

    After a night that saw the two candidates claim the lead, the GOP announced that Mitt Romney beat Rick Santorum by just 8 votes to become the apparent winner. Ron Paul finished third.

     Newt Gingrich had an edge, at 13 percent, over Rick Perry, at 10 percent, while Michele Bachmann lagged in sixth, at 5 percent. Perry said he would take the next few days to re-assess his campaign.

    "I've decided to return to Texas, assess the results of tonight's caucus, determine whether there is a path forward for myself in this race," he said in remarks shortly before midnight. Read the full story.

    Related content:

    Newt Gingrich addresses supporters in Iowa after finishing outside the top three, emphasizing the need for a national discussion about reforming American governmental institutions and commenting on his fellow competitors.

    Rick Perry thanks his supporters in Iowa and announces he is reassessing his campaign and heading home to Texas.

     

  • Scenes from Caucus Day in Iowa

    Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

    Bob DiGregorio, a supporter of Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, leaves a caucus training session held at the Sheraton on Jan. 3, 2012 in West Des Moines, Iowa. After months of campaigning by candidates, Iowan voters throughout the state prepare to participate in the first caucus of the 2012 presidential election.

    Rick Wilking / Reuters

    Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is surrounded by the media after a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 3, 2012, the day of the Iowa caucus.

    Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA

    Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, flanked by staff members, greets Iowa voters at a campaign event at the Temple for Performing Arts in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 3, 2012.

    Joshua Lott / Reuters

    Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann stands with her daughter, Caroline Bachmann, and Iowa's 5th congressional district U.S. Representative Steve King during a news conference in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 3, 2012.

    Jeff Haynes / Reuters

    A Newt Gingrich supporter holds two postcards of Gingrich while listening to him speak at Elly's Tea and Coffee in Muscatine, Iowa, on Jan. 3, 2012.

    Joshua Lott / Reuters

    Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul greets supporters during a campaign stop in West Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 3, 2012.

    For the latest information from the campaign trail see our FirstRead blog.

     

  • Rick Perry blunders during debate

    Jeff Kowalsky / EPA

    During a televised GOP debate on CNBC, Rick Perry struggles to remember what three government agencies he had promised to shut down if elected president, as Texas Rep. Ron Paul watches. Eight candidates took part in the 'Your Money, Your Vote: The Republican Presidential Debate' at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, on Nov. 9. 2011. Later, Perry admitted he had "stepped in it."

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

    "I sure stepped in it out there," he said, per NBC’s Carrie Dann. "The bottom line is I may have forgotten energy but I haven't forgotten my conservative principles." The campaign also fired off an email to supporters that tried to inject a little humor about the gaffe (“Just goes to show there are too damn many federal agencies”) and asked them what federal agencies they’d like to forget (with a website called forgetmenot@rickperry.org). Watch the video from the debate below:

    During Wednesday's debate, GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry is unable to remember one of the three government agencies he would eliminate if he were elected to the White House.

    "I will tell you, I don't mind saying clearly that I stepped in it last night," he said on TODAY, adding: "I am human like everyone else. I stumbled over that agency."

    GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry tells TODAY's Ann Curry that his major stumble in Wednesday night's Republican debate-- where he was unable to remember which government agencies he would abolish -- will not end his presidential bid.

    More from NBC on First Read.

    Slideshow: Rick Perry

    Perry says the gaffe won't end his presidential campaign. What do you think?

     

  • Reach out and touch someone: Romney taps Perry during the debate

    Republican presidential candidates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry interact during a Republican presidential debate Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, in Las Vegas.

    By Phaedra Singelis, NBC News

    Last night's debate was arguably the most contentious yet, and maybe the first in which a candidate actually reached out and touched an opponent during the televised event.

    Round up of the coverage on First Read. Story: Romney and Perry spar (with video)

    Full story: Cain still leading Romney in the polls

    In a previous debate, Perry appeared to scold Ron Paul during a break.

    Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

    Texas Governor Rick Perry, left, talks during a break with Rep. Ron Paul on stage at the GOPl primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California Sept. 7, 2011.

  • Campaign snapshots: Rick Perry and President Obama board the bus

    By Rich Shulman

    Rick Perry ate a vegetarian corn dog on a stick, an egg on a stick and a pork chop on a stick while campaigning at the Iowa State Fair. But the strangest moment came when he posed with a cardboard cutout of a soldier in Afghanistan. The legs under the cutout are a nice touch.

    Meanwhile, President Obama seemed to be reacting to the Minnesota heat and the political heat as he criticized the GOP presidential field.

    Charles Dharapak / AP

    Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry poses with a cutout of U.S. Army Reserves Spc. James Benal of the Nebraska National Guard, serving in Afghanistan, after he was approached by his mother Patty Benal, as Perry visited the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, Aug. 15, 2011.

    Carolyn Kaster / AP

    President Barack Obama wipes his brow as he speaks during a town hall meeting at Lower Hannah's Bend Park in Cannon Falls, Minn., Monday, Aug. 15.

  • Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    Republican presidential candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry steps off of his campaign bus before visiting the Iowa State Fair on Monday, August 15, in Des Moines, Iowa. This is Perry's first trip to Iowa after announcing his run for the GOP presidential nomination.

    Rick Perry visits Iowa State Fair in Des Moines

    Related content:

  • Texas' Rick Perry jumps into presidential race

     

    Gerry Broome / AP

    Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks during the RedState Gathering, a meeting of conservative activists, where he announced his run for presidency in 2012 in Charleston, S.C., Aug. 13.

     NBC's Carrie Dann reports in First Read:

    Republicans in Iowa might be miffed that Gov. Rick Perry's official presidential announcement in South Carolina this afternoon is siphoning attention from the Ames Straw Poll, but the governor of the Palmetto State is smiling.

    "I think his timing was brilliant," Gov. Nikki Haley told reporters after her remarks at the RedState Gathering in South Carolina, where Perry will speak later this afternoon. "I think to turn around and do this the same day that you've got an Ames Iowa poll just really lets us know that it's 'game on' time for all the candidates. And I love that."

    Read more here and check out a slideshow of Perry's political career here.

  • Texas governor Perry attends prayer service

    Brandon Thibodeaux / Getty Images

    Cody Walsh, 18, stands with arms raised in a crowd of attendees as they dance and sing during the opening musical act of the non-denominational prayer and fasting event, entitled "The Response" at Reliant Stadium Aug. 6, in Houston, Texas. Thousands attended the event organized by Gov. Rick Perry in order to pray for God to help save "a nation in crisis" referring to America.

    Richard Carson / Reuters

    Texas Governor Rick Perry, left, attempts to quiet the crowd after his introduction by Reverend C. L. Jackson, rightk, during "The Response", an event billed as a call to prayer for a nation in crisis, at Reliant stadium in Houston Aug. 6.

     Read more here.

  • LM Otero / AP

    Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks to the first general session of the Republican Party of Texas convention in Dallas on Friday, June 11, 2010.

    Political star of Texas

    Dallas Morning News: Rick Perry accepts nomination at the Texas Republican convention.

    "Electing my opponent will accelerate the Washington takeover of our state," Perry said, as delegates at the state Republican convention roared with approval at the Dallas Convention Center. "We're engaged in a struggle for the very heart of the state."