(RNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced he has suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination at a press conference Thursday and endorsed Newt Gingrich.
"I believe Newt Gingrich is a conservative visionary who can transform our country," Perry said.
Calling it a "strategic retreat," he said he came to the conclusion there was no viable path forward for his campaign. He credited Gingrich, the former House speaker, for being a strong, conservative leader.
"I have no question that Newt Gingrich has the courage to tell those Washington interests to take a hike, if that's what is in the best interests of our country," Perry said.
The endorsement came on the back of more good news for Gingrich, as a new poll showed he had emerged as the leader in South Carolina.
Perry, a former front-runner for the GOP bid, said he could go home to Texas knowing he "gave fully" of himself "for a cause worthy of this country." He said his work had moved forward values like cutting government spending and eliminating unnecessary federal agencies.
"I'm not done fighting for the cause of conservatism," he said. "I have not yet begun to fight."
He told his supporters that the American people were not broken, only their politics. And he said the values he put forth transcended any one individual.
"This campaign has never been about the candidates," Perry said. "I ran for president because I love America."
Prior to the official announcement, Perry reportedly told supporters he decided to end his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, according to multiple sources. Around 8:15 a.m., two people close to the situation said he broke the news to them privately, according to CNN.
After a strong showing in early polls, Perry finished fifth in the Iowa Caucuses and skipped campaigning for the New Hampshire primaries. He had placed his presidential hopes in the state of South Carolina, hoping for a boost from the typically conservative-valued state.
But according to a CNN/Time/ORC Poll released Wednesday, Perry was running a distant fifth at only six percent. The poll further showed he did not have much popularity among likely Florida primaries voters either, with only two percent saying they would vote for him.
Perry ascended to the governorship of Texas after George W. Bush was elected to the presidency in 2001 and hoped to follow in his footsteps to the White House.
Perry touted his accomplishments as governor and took credit for job growth in a down economy. Since 2009, 37 percent of jobs created in the U.S. were in Texas, according to Dallas Federal Reserve President Richard Fisher.
Perry proclaimed himself from the beginning as a Tenth Amendment Republican, advocating for states as laboratories for democracy and pushing for a smaller, less intrusive government.
Perry was born in Paint Creek, TX, and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. After college, he flew C-130s in the Air Force.
He began his political career in 1985 as a state representative. He later served as Texas Agriculture Commissioner until he ran for and won the seat of Lt. Governor.
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Rick Perry has ended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, according to CNN. (Source: CNN)
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