[5] While he was initially successful in fundraising and was largely considered a serious contender for the nomination, he struggled during the debates and his poll numbers began to decline.

[6][7] After a poor showing in New Hampshire and with "lagging" poll numbers in South Carolina, Perry formally announced he was suspending his campaign on January 19, 2012.

[8] Perry had persistently denied aspirations to higher office; he was originally included on the 2012 Presidential Straw Poll ballot at the Values Voter Summit in September 2009, but his name was removed at his own request.

The Associated Press noted that its investigation was incomplete because the Perry administration had "censored dozens of calls [from the records] for privacy reasons, and his schedules in recent years contain only partial information".

[16] Perry said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke should stop printing more money to stimulate the economy, saying it was "treasonous" and that he would be treated "pretty ugly down in Texas" for his actions.

[21] This arrangement was criticized as illegal by Fred Wertheimer, the president of the watchdog group Democracy 21, who said, "The idea that such a PAC is going to be independent from the campaign is ridiculous.

However, Paul Burka, senior executive editor at Texas Monthly, said "Eventually the debates will end, and retail politics will take center stage.

"[29] Perry lost many conservatives' support when he defended the Texas policy of allowing in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants.

"[30] He was later forced to spend much of his time on the campaign trail defending the law, saying it was compassionate conservatism, was a state-only issue, and was well-intentioned because it would turn those citizens into productive, taxpaying members of society.

[36] Perry finished in second place in the 2011 California, Florida, Michigan and National Federation of Republican Women's Convention straw polls.

[43] October 2011 was a poor month for his campaign, as his debate performances, scrutiny from conservatives, negative media attention, and the rise of Herman Cain's popularity caused his viability to sink.

He was criticised for having defended a display of Confederate symbols[50] and having allegedly run "race-baiting" ads during his 1990 campaign against liberal activist and Democrat Jim Hightower for Texas agriculture commissioner.

"[51] The ads were criticized for their racial content by leaders in Texas's congressional black caucus, fellow members with Hightower of the Democratic Party.

Perry has said he does not necessarily endorse the views of Wagner, who has advocated publicly burning religious images and claimed that Japan is controlled by demons because its emperor had sex with the sun goddess.

[54] His campaign invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in television and radio advertisements in early states, and was able to finance serious ground operations.

Perry hired several high-profile Republican media advisers on October 24, 2011, and began launching more negative television ads against Mitt Romney.

[59] Perry's new media team was described as aggressive by Politico, which noted that many had worked for Governor Rick Scott's 2010 campaign in Florida which it described as using "brass-knuckled tactics".

[64] The Guardian called it "one of the most humiliating debate performances in recent US political history", and reporters asked him if he was going to continue in the race after that gaffe.

[68] Observers have speculated that he may have had a natural "retrieval failure" as a result of stress put on him by past poor debates and personal pressure to shine at the event.

Perry argued for the U.S. Congress to halve its members' salaries and create a shorter, more part-time, schedule so Congressmen would have to "go back home, have a real job, and live under the laws that they pass in Washington, DC.

[77] The San Francisco Chronicle printed a story on November 17 citing a sharp downturn in fundraising for the Perry campaign, which was attributed to gaffe-marred debates.

[83] Perry criticized the Obama administration's announcement on December 6, 2011, that the United States would initiate the use of foreign aid for promoting homosexual rights across the world.

[84] Perry spoke out against the measure, saying, "Just when you thought Barack Obama couldn't get any more out of touch with America's values, AP reports his administration wants to make foreign aid decisions based on gay rights.

"[85][86] During his speech, Perry called homosexuality a "deeply objectionable" lifestyle and firmly objected to any effort by the Obama administration to encroach on traditional family values.

[87] In an apparent reference to the non-renewal of a grant for a Catholic organization, the U.S. Bishops Council on Migratory and Refugee Services, Perry said the administration's decision to reduce federal funding was an example of Obama's "war on religion".

[90] Perry gave an interview to the Des Moines Register editorial board arguing against the Supreme Court decisions to end prayer in schools.

He said the rulings were made by "eight unelected and, frankly, unaccountable judges" and called the Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor "Montemayor.

"[93] He spoke candidly about back pain which remained during his early months on the trail, saying he was "fatigued" after his surgery in July 2011,[94] but was feeling healthier and noticed personal improvements in his energy levels.

[95] Vanity Fair printed a story ascribing Perry's demeanor during the early debates to his being "uncomfortable" as he twisted his torso and wore orthopedic shoes and a back brace.