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Rick Perry 'to end' White House bid Rick Perry 'to end' White House bid
(40 minutes later)
Texas Governor Rick Perry is withdrawing from the Republican presidential race, US media report. Texas Governor Rick Perry is about to withdraw from the Republican presidential race.
He is expected to hold a news conference at 11:00 (1600 GMT) in South Carolina to announce his exit. He is due to hold a news briefing soon in North Charleston, South Carolina, to announce his exit.
Mr Perry is tipped to endorse former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for the Republican presidential nomination.Mr Perry is tipped to endorse former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for the Republican presidential nomination.
When Mr Perry entered the race in August, he briefly shot to the front of the pack before gaffes and poor debate performances set him back.When Mr Perry entered the race in August, he briefly shot to the front of the pack before gaffes and poor debate performances set him back.
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the front-runner in the state-by-state race for the Republican Party's nomination to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama for the White House this November.Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is the front-runner in the state-by-state race for the Republican Party's nomination to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama for the White House this November.
But recent opinion polls have shown a resurgent Mr Gingrich gaining on Mr Romney, although he still trails by about 10 percentage points. Recent opinion polls have shown a resurgent Mr Gingrich gaining on Mr Romney, although he still trails by about 10 percentage points.
Iowa result muddle
However, the thrice-married Mr Gingrich could be embarrassed by an interview ABC News will broadcast with his former wife, Marianne, on its Nightline show later on Thursday.
The expected withdrawal of Mr Perry leaves four candidates: Mr Romney, Mr Gingrich, veteran Texas Congressman Ron Paul and Christian conservative Rick Santorum.
All four will battle it out on Thursday night in the final nationally televised debate before South Carolina's primary on Saturday.
After finishing fifth in Iowa's first-in-the-nation nominating contest, Mr Perry briefly reconsidered his campaign before ploughing on.After finishing fifth in Iowa's first-in-the-nation nominating contest, Mr Perry briefly reconsidered his campaign before ploughing on.
He skipped campaigning in the moderate New England state of New Hampshire to focus on South Carolina. But his message failed to take off even in that conservative southern state.He skipped campaigning in the moderate New England state of New Hampshire to focus on South Carolina. But his message failed to take off even in that conservative southern state.
The expected withdrawal of Mr Perry leaves three other conservative candidates vying to take on Mr Romney in the nominating process: Mr Gingrich, Texas Congressman Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. His departure will follow on the heels of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and last month, Georgia businessman Herman Cain.
Mr Perry has faced calls to quit the race in recent days as rival candidates warned the conservative vote would split across the candidates, ultimately benefiting Mr Romney. Mr Perry has faced calls to quit the race in recent days as rival candidates warned the conservative vote would fracture across the candidates, ultimately benefiting Mr Romney.
Mr Perry's departure would follow on the heels of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and last month, Georgia businessman Herman Cain. Mr Romney's Mormon faith and political record as governor of the moderate state of Massachusetts is viewed with suspicion by some conservative Republicans.
Also on Thursday, the final results of the Iowa caucuses were certified as a split decision between Mr Romney and Mr Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, because of missing data.
Mr Romney had initially been declared the winner of the 3 January nominating contest by eight votes.
But the final count shows Mr Santorum ahead by 34 votes, although no winner has been declared because the results from eight precincts are missing.
According to the certified vote totals, Mr Santorum won 29,839 votes while Mr Romney had 29,805. Mr Paul finished in third place with 26,036.
Iowa Republican Party chairman Matt Strawn announced the results at a news conference on Thursday morning.
The Romney campaign called the outcome a "virtual tie", while the Santorum campaign said it changed the narrative of the race.