Rick Perry quits US presidential race

Rick Perry has withdrawn from the race for the Republican US presidential nomination and endorsed Newt Gingrich as the best man to take on Barack Obama in November's election.
The Texas governor ended his campaign at a news conference on Thursday in North Charleston, South Carolina, where the remaining four candidates are later due to participate in a televised debate prior to Saturday's primary vote.
"I have 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 for president of the United States," Perry said."The journey leads me back to Texas, neither discouraged nor disenchanted