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| Rick Perry drops out of US presidential race | Rick Perry drops out of US presidential race |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former Texas Governor Rick Perry has dropped out of the race to be US president - the first departure among a large field of Republican candidates. | Former Texas Governor Rick Perry has dropped out of the race to be US president - the first departure among a large field of Republican candidates. |
| Mr Perry had recently stopped paying campaign staff in states with early contests like Iowa. | Mr Perry had recently stopped paying campaign staff in states with early contests like Iowa. |
| His campaign has been struggling in the polls and he failed to make the cut into the main Republican presidential debate last month. | His campaign has been struggling in the polls and he failed to make the cut into the main Republican presidential debate last month. |
| Mr Perry also ran in 2012 but dropped out after a series of gaffes. | Mr Perry also ran in 2012 but dropped out after a series of gaffes. |
| Without naming front-runner Donald Trump, Mr Perry warned fellow Republicans to reject hard-line stances on immigration that could alienate Hispanic Americans. | Without naming front-runner Donald Trump, Mr Perry warned fellow Republicans to reject hard-line stances on immigration that could alienate Hispanic Americans. |
| "In America, it is the content of your character that matters, not the colour of your skin," he told supporters on Friday. | "In America, it is the content of your character that matters, not the colour of your skin," he told supporters on Friday. |
| Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Reporter | Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Reporter |
| Rick Perry certainly possessed a resume to be a top-tier contender for the Republican nomination. | Rick Perry certainly possessed a resume to be a top-tier contender for the Republican nomination. |
| He was an ex-military officer from humble roots who, as governor of Texas, led the state through economic boom times. His campaign never caught fire, however, and - eventually - the campaign money dried up. | He was an ex-military officer from humble roots who, as governor of Texas, led the state through economic boom times. His campaign never caught fire, however, and - eventually - the campaign money dried up. |
| Just four years ago, in his first presidential bid, Mr Perry had widespread support and seemed a real threat to Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination. That was before poor debate performances - capped by his "oops" moment, where he forgot the third in a list of federal agencies he'd abolish - and sharp criticism for a moderate position on immigration reform that was out of step with the Republican electorate. | Just four years ago, in his first presidential bid, Mr Perry had widespread support and seemed a real threat to Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination. That was before poor debate performances - capped by his "oops" moment, where he forgot the third in a list of federal agencies he'd abolish - and sharp criticism for a moderate position on immigration reform that was out of step with the Republican electorate. |
| It seems in a crowded 2016 field, Republican voters were just not interested in giving Mr Perry a second look. | It seems in a crowded 2016 field, Republican voters were just not interested in giving Mr Perry a second look. |
| Mr Perry - who led America's second most populous state for more than a decade - was initially seen as a top-tier candidate. | |
| However, he has been quickly eclipsed in the polls by political outsiders like Mr Trump and former neurosurgeon Ben Carson. | However, he has been quickly eclipsed in the polls by political outsiders like Mr Trump and former neurosurgeon Ben Carson. |
| "We have a tremendous field, the best in a generation, so I step aside knowing our party is in good hands," he said. | "We have a tremendous field, the best in a generation, so I step aside knowing our party is in good hands," he said. |
| Sixteen Republicans and five Democrats remain the race. |