Perry first to exit 2016 race as Trump suffocates GOP rivals

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Rick Perry's political career ended with a whimper, a remarkable if predictable fall for the longest-serving governor in Texas history and a leader many considered the Republican Party's savior just four years ago.

History may judge it an end sealed back in 2011, when Perry froze on a debate stage and tried to recover with an embarrassed "oops." Others may remember the former governor with the movie-star looks and resume to match as Donald Trump's first political victim.

Perry all but declared war on the billionaire businessman in July, calling Trump "a cancer on conservatism" who could destroy the Republican Party. On Friday night, Trump's campaign was soaring while Perry was pulling out of the race for the White House.

More than a dozen major Republican candidates remain in the 2016 field, yet Trump's dominance is suffocating his rivals. In still-early polls, the real-estate mogul and realty TV star has more support that the once-top-tier trio of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio combined.

In second, by the way, is another political rookie: retired surgeon Ben Carson.

"There is no play in the playbook for where we are right now," said John Jordan, a California winery owner and major Republican fundraiser. "Donors don't know what to think. Nobody saw the Trump phenomenon coming. Probably a lot of Jeb donors wish they had their money back."

Perry was more gracious as he surprised a gathering of social conservatives in St. Louis by announcing his departure.

"We have a tremendous field of candidates - probably the greatest group of men and women," Perry said. "I step aside knowing our party is in good hands, as long as we listen to the grassroots, listen to that cause of conservatism. If we do that, then our party will be in good hands."

Perry also made several sly references to Trump, offering a last warning of sorts to a GOP experiencing its most serious identity crisis in a generation. Trump may favor tax increases on the rich, once supported abortion rights, given money to Hillary Rodham Clinton and said kind things about government-run health care in other countries, but he's become the GOP's unquestioned presidential front-runner.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who took the stage in St. Louis after Perry, said Trump's ability to command media attention puts other candidates at a distinct disadvantage.

"I think in many ways it doesn't change the big picture," Huckabee said of Perry's exit, "but it does show that with this many candidates on the stage, it's very, very difficult to get noticed."

Added Huckabee, "The rules right now are not really favoring the challenger candidates."

That included Perry, who had stopped paying most of his campaign staff in recent weeks because he couldn't raise the money. While his allies at three super PACs are sitting on a small fortune devoted to his White House bid, they couldn't share that money with his campaign - or coordinate their activities with it.

Austin Barbour, a leader of the pro-Perry super PACs, said the groups have as much as $13 million in the bank. He planned to talk Saturday morning with lawyers to "see what the law says we can do with this money."

After that, and following consultation with the donors, he said, "we will see if we want the super PAC to move in another direction, or if we give it back."

Perry was quickly praised by his Republican competitors, who publicly and privately began courting his political network. In a statement, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's campaign called Perry "a proud veteran who bravely served our nation" and "an extraordinary governor of Texas."

A person close to the Cruz campaign, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, says the fellow Texan's camp will be "immediately" reaching out to Perry donors and supporters. "If we don't jump in, other campaigns are going to try to," the person said.

Cruz feels that Perry's exit will make it easier to attract top Texas donors who hadn't otherwise contributed to the senator, because they didn't want to be seen as publicly choosing sides against Perry, the person said. It also may make the March 1 Texas primary "a lot cleaner," since Cruz will be the clear home-state choice.

Meanwhile, Trump spent his Friday basking on "The Tonight Show." As his appearance drew to a close, host Jimmy Fallon proposed a new campaign song for Trump to consider, an anthem by DJ Khaled called "All I Do Is Win."

"What do you think?" asked Fallon.

"Honestly," Trump beamed, "it happens to be 100 percent true."

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