Perry Quits And Slinks Back To Texas

About five months ago Rick Perry jumped into the race for the Republican presidential nomination. There was a lot of fanfare about the "economic miracle" he had performed in Texas and he immediately jumped into the lead in the presidential race. But his political prospects have been sinking fast since then.

It didn't take long for his "economic miracle" to be exposed as a fraud, that rewarded the rich by stealing from poor, working, and middle class Texans. And the candidate himself was also exposed as a fraud, who couldn't even stand up to the mental midgets running against him for the Republican nomination. His candidacy will be used for generations as an example of how NOT to run a campaign.

Finally, the hopelessness of his campaign chances have sunk in to even his rather small and unused brain. Yesterday Perry announced he is dropping out of the presidential race. And during his announcement, he has the few supporters he has left to back Newt Gingrich. Perry's endorsement, combined with the endorsement of Sarah Palin a couple of days ago, should probably be enough to be the death knell for Gingrich's presidential hopes.

Here is what Perry said in his announcement:

"There is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign. I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich for president.


As a Texan, I've never shied away from a fight. But ... I know when it's time to make a strategic retreat. I will leave the trail, return home to Texas, wind down my 2012 campaign. And I will do so with pride, knowing I gave fully of myself."

No viable path? I would calll that an understatement. There hasn't been a path for him to the nomination for quite a while. It just took him a very long time to accept it. I suspect the results of a Texas poll that showed he would finish no better than third in his own home state, and 39% of Texas Republicans believe his campaign has damaged the image of the state of Texas, was the final straw that broke the back of his pitiful campaign.

It finally dawned on Perry that he was not just embarrassing himself (and his state) by continuing his presidential campaign, but he was also damaging his own political future in Texas. Staying in the race would diminish his already dwindling chances of being re-elected to another term as governor in 2014 -- and yes, I do think he'll try for another term as governor. He's never held a private sector job and has become a millionaire while serving as an elected official. Why would he kill the goose that has laid his golden egg?

Perry's withdrawal is good news for 49 states and the District of Columbia, but sad news for most Texans (since he will be running our state government once again). But that's OK. We're willing to take that hit for the good of the country as a whole.