Rick Perry, the former Governor of Texas, has dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Mr Perry, who briefly led the polls during his previous presidential campaign in 2012, had failed to make an impact on a broad 2016 field dominated by colourful outsiders such as Donald Trump, and filled out by establishment favourites including former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and Scott Walker, the Governor of Wisconsin.

Mr Perry, who led the Lone Star state from 2000 to 2015, announced on Friday that he would suspend his campaign. “We have a tremendous field – the best in a generation – so I step aside knowing our party is in good hands,” he told the audience at an event in St Louis. Mr Perry is the first Republican to exit the race, narrowing the GOP field to 16 candidates.

He had failed to poll strongly enough to appear on the main stage at the party’s first presidential debate last month, and did not make the cut for the second debate, due to take place at the Reagan Library in California next Wednesday, 16 September. It is almost a month since the Perry campaign announced it would cease to pay its staff, and days since the campaign’s headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina, was closed. Mr Perry cited deep financial difficulties for his decision to pull out.

Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate Show all 10 1 /10 Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate DONALD TRUMP - MOGUL AND PRESENTER Most likely to say: “You other guys are just a bunch of stiffs. I LOVE Mexico. I will make America great again!” Least likely to say: “I invited Hillary Clinton to my wedding. Which wedding? I forget. Pass me a comb.” Reuters Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate JEB BUSH - FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR Most likely to say: “I am the only one with a proven record as a conservative governor.” He will always add at least one sentence in Spanish. Least likely to say: “I know how to campaign. The last time I ran for office? 2003.” Reuters Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate SCOTT WALKER - GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN Most likely to say: “I took on the unions and beat them. I won two elections in a Democrat state and a recall election too.” Least likely to say: “Put a guy without a college degree in the White House. I won’t tell you why I dropped out.” AP Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate MIKE HUCKABEE - FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS Most likely to say: “I will fight to end gay marriage and reverse the Supreme Court on Obamacare.” Least likely to say: “You over there, Fox News guy. Keep my seat warm in the studio, because I’ll be back soon!” AP Photo/John Locher, File Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate BEN CARSON - FORMER SURGEON Most likely to say: “Barack Obama has been a disaster for America and I am the only to have called him out consistently.” Least likely to say: “I have never ever held elected office or even run for one. But I have a great life story!” Getty Images Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate TED CRUZ - SENATOR FROM TEXAS Most likely to say: “I will end big government and slash Washington to ribbons. Bye-bye gay marriage and Obamacare.” Least likely to say: “Hey, Mr Trump, if you want to play the ‘birther’ game again, I was born in Calgary, Canada!” EPA/SHAWN THEW Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate MARCO RUBIO - SENATOR FROM FLORIDA Most likely to say: “President Obama is wrong on Iran and wrong on Cuba. I won’t chum about with tyrants.” Least likely to say: “I look like a puppy, but bring it on Putin. Yes, Jeb Bush was my mentor. Who cares?” AP Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate RAND PAUL - SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY Most likely to say: “Everyone else on this stage is war crazy. I will not send your children to fight pointless wars abroad.” Least likely to say: “Time Magazine called me ‘the most interesting man in politics’ last year. Why y’all yawning?” Reuters Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate CHRIS CHRISTIE - GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY Most likely to say: “I am a two-term governor in a Democrat state with a record of reaching across the aisle.” Least likely to say: “Any bridges in Cleveland I can foul up? Don’t ask me about New Jersey’s economy.” Getty Images Presidential prowess? Republican candidates in televised debate JOHN KASICH - GOVERNOR OF OHIO Most likely to say: “Welcome to my state, where jobs are growing and spending is down. You want to win Ohio, don’t you?” Least likely to say: “Don’t send me any foreign policy questions, because I’m more or less clueless. I might ramble. Again.” AP