NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. ? Texas Gov. Rick Perry ended his campaign for president Thursday morning and endorsed Newt Gingrich.
?I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform this country,? Perry said.
Continue ReadingPerry ends bid for White House
Pundits react: Perry drops out
Making what he called a ?strategic retreat,? the Texan obliquely referred to Gingrich?s checkered personal life just hours before an interview with the former House speaker?s second wife was to speak out in a TV interview.
?Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?? said Perry.
Citing his Christian faith, Perry said of Gingrich: ?I believe in the power of redemption.?
Perry kept an upbeat note as he ended his campaign. He talked about his plan for jobs, his commitment to conservative principles, his time in the Air Force and his roots in Paint Creek, Texas. He thanked his staff, supporters and family throughout the event.
Perry made the case against Barack Obama ? and without mentioning him by name, Mitt Romney, too, saying he wanted the president to have the ?heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement and the courage to tell the Washington interests to take a hike if it?s what is best for the country.?
?I began this race with a sense of calling ? I felt led into the arena to fight for the future of this country,? Perry said. ?I feel no different than I did then, knowing the calling never represents a particular outcome, but a journey that tests one?s faith and character.?
Perry added, ?Now the journey leads us back to Texas, neither discouraged nor disenchanted, but instead rewarded by the experience and resolute to remain in the arena and in the service of a great nation.?
?I?m not done fighting for the cause of conservatism,? Perry said. ?As a matter of fact, I have just begun to fight.?
Gingrich will be hoping the move gives him a boost as tries to consolidate conservative support ahead of Saturday?s primary, aiming to unite the voters who had been splitting between him, Perry and Rick Santorum.
Gingrich has been assiduously lobbying Perry officials in recent days, POLITICO has learned. The former House speaker has repeatedly texted Perry manager Joe Allbaugh.
Sources confirm Gingrich and Perry met privately yesterday to discuss the exit and endorsement. Both attended the Personhood USA anti-abortion presidential forum in Greenville on Wednesday night.
Perry, however, did not make the decision about exiting the race until the morning.
But the discord within the Perry campaign was evident even as the candidate prepared to drop out. Top officials in Texas said they were unaware of his intentions and as late as this morning said they genuinely didn?t know whether he was still running.
Gingrich did not attend the Perry press conference, but at a separate event, praised Perry and said he was ?very honored and very humbled? to have the support.
?He?s been a great patriot. He understands the mission of defending freedom,? Gingrich said at a Beaufort town hall.
Gingrich said he spoke with Perry Thursday morning and asked him to head a 10th Amendment enforcement group. He?s asking him to reach out to governors and lawmakers to develop legislation to strengthen the states? rights.
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