Rick Perry to Drop Out of Presidential Race

Gov. Rick Perry will not be participating in the debate in South Carolina on Thursday evening.  He, instead, is set to announce that he will be dropping out of the presidential race ending his bid for the Republican presidential nominaiton.  This decision will come only two days before the South Carolina Primary.

Perry had been campaigning across South Carolina with hopes that this upcoming Southern primary would give his campaign a much needed boost after his disappointing fifth place finish in the Iowa caucuses and a sixth place finish in the Hampshire primary.

Perry is expected to confirm his decision to end his bid for the republican presidential nomination during a press conference in North Charleston, South Carolina today at 11 a.m. ET. Perry is also expected to endorse former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

[CBS News]