- Underperforming pol says during speech at conservative gathering that he's 'suspending' his campaign
- Was polling at 1 per cent
- Reports swirled that Perry's campaign was running on fumes and he was down to just a few paid staffers
- Second White House run was hampered by criminal anuse-of-power indictment Democrats brought against him in his home state
p class="mol-para-with-font">Former Texas Governor Rick Perry said Friday that he is pulling out of the 2016 race.
'Today I am suspending my campaign for the presidency of the United States,' Perry said, according to prepared remarks released in advance of a speech at the conservative Eagle Forum in St. Louis, Missouri.
The two-time White House candidate was polling at 1 per cent among Republicans and had reduced his campaign staff to just a few full-time aides.
'We have a tremendous field the best in a generation so I step aside knowing our party is in good hands,' Perry said in a statement.