Rick Perry suspends his presidential campaign

FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2015, file photo Republican presidential candidate, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the Defending the American Dream summit hosted by Americans for Prosperity at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. It was announced on Friday that Perry is dropping out of the 2016 race for president. less FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2015, file photo Republican presidential candidate, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the Defending the American Dream summit hosted by Americans for Prosperity at the Greater ... more Photo: Paul Vernon, AP Photo: Paul Vernon, AP Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close Rick Perry suspends his presidential campaign 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

After weeks of struggling to attract voter support or raise enough money to pay his campaign staff, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday afternoon became the first major candidate to leave the 2016 presidential race.

Perry announced he was suspending his 3-month-old campaign in a speech at the Eagle Forum, a gathering in St. Louis of other candidates and conservative activists.

"Today I submit that His will remains a mystery, but some things have become very clear to me," Perry said. "That is why today I am suspending my campaign for the presidency of the United States."

The announcement effectively snuffed out any remaining hope for Perry's long-shot campaign, which never caught fire despite a record of conservative leadership as the longest-serving governor in Texas history. Instead, in a field of 17 GOP hopefuls, voters appeared unwilling to give another chance to a man who stumbled badly in debates during his first attempt in 2012.

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First-time candidates drew most of the support in the early stages of the primary, with nobody receiving more attention over the summer than front-runner Donald Trump. Perry was the first to take on Trump, calling him a "cancer on conservatism," but the move backfired and he slipped further behind in the polls.

Fundraising problems forced Perry to stop paying his staff in early August. He resumed pay for some a couple weeks later, but by that point had to deal with a steadily stream of staff departures. The most high-profile person to leave, Iowa state chairman Sam Clovis, joined Trump's team.

Perry cut back on campaign events but vowed to keep fighting, especially in the early-voting states of Iowa and South Carolina. He was thought to be able to stay afloat thanks to the support of several super PACs that already had raised at least $17 million.

It was not immediately clear what would happen with that money. Staff at the super PACs, known collectively as the Opportunity and Freedom PAC, did not respond to calls for comment Friday.

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Perry's rivals were quick to praise him after the announcement, with several saying he had added to the debate. Even Trump wrote on Twitter that Perry was a "terrific guy."

"I wish him well- I know he will have a great future!" Trump wrote.

In St. Louis, the crowd at the Eagle Forum gave Perry hearty applause, but did not seem shocked by the announcement.

.@GovernorPerry is a terrific guy and I wish him well- I know he will have a great future! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2015

Political strategists around the country agreed they were not surprised because of the fundraising issues and other signs of a troubled campaign.

"Reality set in. There was nowhere to go," veteran Texas GOP consultant Matt Mackowiak said. "Fundraising was bleak. He was never going to get on the big debate stage. The path through Iowa and South Carolina was becoming less clear. His staff was leaving. He had no choice."

Others cited the fact that CNN had only hours earlier finalized the second debate of the primary next Wednesday in California. Eleven candidates qualified for the primetime forum, but Perry was relegated to an earlier event for minor hopefuls.

Mike Dennehy, a veteran operative who had overseen Perry's five-person staff in New Hampshire until a week ago, said the decision was understandable.

"Campaigns are unpredictable," Dennehy said, "but it is a shame that a man with the most successful executive experience and the one who can best relate to middle class America will not be on the ballot as we choose the Republican nominee. Fortunately we have a tremendous field of candidates and we will have a good nominee next year."

Other Perry supporters also expressed disappointment.

"I don't necessarily agree the party's in good hands," said Iowa state Sen. David Johnson, who had been volunteering for the campaign and said he strongly disagreed with Trump. "Rick Perry has a depth of character that we need more of, and we've got some issues with the front runner."

Johnson, who said he was surprised but not shocked by the news, added that he thought the Republican Party eventually would choose a good candidate.

"But right now there's just a lot of chaos," he said.

Perry said he had no regrets about his decision or his campaign.

"It has been a privilege for me," he said. "It has been an honor to travel this country, to speak with the American people about their hopes and their dreams, to see a sense of optimism being prevalent despite this season of cynical politics."

The longtime governor did not offer many hints about his next move.

"And as I approach the next chapter in my life, I do it with the love of my life at my side, Anita Perry," he said. "We have a house in the country, we have two beautiful children, two absolutely adorable, beautiful, smart granddaughters, four dogs and the absolute best sunset you have ever seen from the back porch of that house."

"Life is good."