Rick Perry to drop 2012 campaign for president, endorse Newt, sources say

Rick Perry is expected to drop out later this morning at an 11 a.m. press conference, two sources confirmed to POLITICO. He's also expected to endorse Newt Gingrich, the sources confirmed.

Sources told POLITICO that Gingrich and Perry had a secret meeting to discuss a possible endorsement.

Gingrich had been assiduously lobbying Perry officials in recent days, POLITICO has learned. The former House speaker has repeatedly texted Perry manager Joe Allbaugh.

It gives the surging Gingrich a huge boost heading into the final debate tonight, and the South Carolina primary on Saturday, in which he's already closing in on Mitt Romney.

Perry has indicated he plans to support Gingrich, two sources confirm. Gingrich wrote the foreword to Perry's states rights' tome, "Fed Up!"

His decision to bow out was first reported by CNN.

Perry has proved unpredictable in the past — he indicated strongly he was assessing whether to drop out after his dismal fifth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, only to go for a jog the next morning, speak with his family and a small group of aides and decide to press on to South Carolina. Still, this time he has indicated broadly he's out, the sources said.

The discord in Perryworld was evident even as the candidate prepared to drop out.

Top officials in Texas said they were unaware of his intentions and as late as this morning said they genuinely didn't know whether he was still running.