The 2016 race has claimed its first victim.
In a speech delivered at the Eagle Forum in St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced he is dropping out of the presidential race.
“When I gave my life to Christ, I said, ‘Your ways are greater than my ways. Your will superior to mine.’ Today I submit that His will remains a mystery, but some things have become clear,” Perry said. “That is why today I am suspending my campaign for the presidency of the United States.”
Perry made the announcement on Friday, less than a week before the next GOP debate, where he would have been relegated to the lower-tier stage. The decision came after he delivered a long and winding criticism of the current state of American politics and the country’s current leadership.
As Perry’s campaign struggled financially, raising just $1.1 million by the end of July and having to stop paying staffers in key primary states, a network of super PACs kept his presidential ambitions on life support. Outpacing the usual role, the groups did more than simply blanket the television with advertisements, taking measures including dispatching staff to Iowa. Perry’s PACs were infused with donations from only a handful of high-rolling donors, but they managed to raise $17 million this year through the end of June. When news of Perry’s financial troubles grew, the PACs were infused with other major donations. According to CBS News, one contributor gave $100,000.