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Short of cash, trailing in the polls, and consigned once more to a second-tier GOP presidential debate, former Texas governor Rick Perry suspended his presidential campaign Friday.



Declaring that "some things have become clear," Perry told a group of conservative activists that he would become the first of 17 GOP candidates to drop out of the presidential race "with no regrets". "We have a tremendous field of candidates — probably the greatest group of men and women," Perry said. "I step aside knowing our party is in good hands, as long as we listen to the grassroots, listen to that cause of conservatism. If we do that, then our party will be in good hands."

This campaign was Perry's second try for the presidency, the first having been in 2012. Although that first campaign began with the Texas governor leading the polls and presenting a legitimate challenge to front runner Mitt Romney, Perry's chances collapsed almost as quickly as they had risen after a string of mediocre debate performances. His worst moment came when he could not remember the names of all the federal agencies he would eliminate if elected -- as he admitted he could not recall the agency names, he was only able to mutter "oops".

Determined to shed his 2012 image as a poorly prepared candidate, Perry read up on national and global policy and sharpened his stump speech and debate skills. However, in the crowded 2016 GOP field, the candidate was unable to gain the campaign cash and support from primary voters needed to become a top-tier candidate this time around. Last month, Perry's campaign stopped paying staffers, and key advisers began defecting from his team. His national poll numbers were too low for him to qualify for August's prime-time debate. Perry's campaign suffered a second blow Thursday when announced that he would yet again be consigned to the second-tier GOP debate. By late Thursday, Perry had called donors to say he was out of the race, and on Friday told the activists that he would be suspending his campaign for good.