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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Rick Perry withdraws bid for White House | Rick Perry withdraws bid for White House |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Texas Governor Rick Perry has withdrawn from the Republican presidential race and endorsed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. | Texas Governor Rick Perry has withdrawn from the Republican presidential race and endorsed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. |
| He said there was no "viable path forward", at a news conference in North Charleston, South Carolina. | He said there was no "viable path forward", at a news conference in North Charleston, South Carolina. |
| 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. |
| His departure leaves four candidates in the Republican race. | His departure leaves four candidates in the Republican race. |
| 'Conservative visionary' | 'Conservative visionary' |
| Mr Perry said: "I've come to the conclusion that there is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign. | |
| "Therefore today I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich." | "Therefore today I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich." |
| Mr Perry called Mr Gingrich a "conservative visionary", adding: "Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?" | Mr Perry called Mr Gingrich a "conservative visionary", adding: "Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?" |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| ABC has released an excerpt of the interview in which the former Mrs Gingrich says her ex-husband wanted an open marriage. | ABC has released an excerpt of the interview in which the former Mrs Gingrich says her ex-husband wanted an open marriage. |
| Mr Romney, Mr Gingrich, veteran Texas Congressman Ron Paul and Christian conservative Rick Santorum remain in the contest. | Mr Romney, Mr Gingrich, veteran Texas Congressman Ron Paul and Christian conservative Rick Santorum remain in the contest. |
| All four will battle it out on Thursday night in the final nationally televised debate before South Carolina's primary on Saturday. | 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 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 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. |
| His departure follows on the heels of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and last month, Georgia businessman Herman Cain. | His departure follows on the heels of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and last month, Georgia businessman Herman Cain. |
| Mr Perry had faced calls in recent days to stand aside as rivals warned the conservative vote would fracture across the candidates, ultimately benefiting Mr Romney. | Mr Perry had faced calls in recent days to stand aside as rivals warned the conservative vote would fracture across the candidates, ultimately benefiting Mr Romney. |
| Mr Romney's Mormon faith and political record as governor of the moderate state of Massachusetts is viewed with suspicion by some conservative Republicans. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 kept his third-place finish, with 26,036 ballots. | According to the certified vote totals, Mr Santorum won 29,839 votes while Mr Romney had 29,805. Mr Paul kept his third-place finish, with 26,036 ballots. |
| Iowa Republican Party chairman Matt Strawn announced the results at a news conference on Thursday morning. | 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. | The Romney campaign called the outcome a "virtual tie", while the Santorum campaign said it changed the narrative of the race. |