Rick Perry: “I Step Aside Knowing Our Party Is In Good Hands”

Rick Perry embraces Madeline Martin, daughter of Eagle Forum president Ed Mark, before speaking at the Eagle Council on Sept. 11, 2015. (Photo: Sid Hastings, AP)

According to a published report by Heidi Przybyla and Fredreka Schouten of USA Today at 7:18 PM on September 11, 2015, Dallas businessman Doug Deason said Perry called him and his father, technology billionaire Darwin Deason, on Thursday to tell them he was leaving the race. The family was among Perry’s largest financial backers. Darwin Deason contributed $5 million to a pro-Perry super PAC this year and was prepared to spend more.

Perry “seemed down about it and relieved at the same time,” Doug Deason said. “We’re disappointed.”

He said a lingering abuse-of-power indictment in Texas, which Perry and his allies have dismissed as politically motivated, complicated the Republican’s bid. The unresolved case made it “harder for people to put money, time and the commitment behind him,” Deason said.

Perry’s debate stage “Oops” moment in 2012 has relentlessly dogged him, but he courageously asked for a second chance.  That second chance will not be realized.  He could not find a toehold in what he called “a tremendous field—the best in a generation.”  He went on to say, "As long as we listen to the grass roots, the cause of conservatism will be [in good hands] too."

John Hinderaker noted at Powerline that, “In a field of 17, it is inevitable that there will be some early dropouts. Personally, I would prefer that the casualties not be governors with great records. Bobby Jindal is another in that category who may not be around for the long haul. My own preference would be to see Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, George Pataki, Jim Gilmore and Lindsey Graham fall by the wayside. For some of the individuals on that list, it may not be long, but we can expect candidates like Huckabee and Santorum, who have more or less made a career out of running for president, to stick around as long as possible.”

You can read Gov. Perry’s remarks to the Eagle Forum here.