Rick Perry, We Hardly Knew Ye

The first casualty of the GOP 2016 presidential nomination field has "suspended" his campaign and that is the former Texas governor, Rick Perry as he made the announcement today in St. Louis.
In Mr. Perry's announcement, in a clear swipe at the current GOP front runner, Donald J. Trump, he spoke of the conservative grassroots,

"We have a tremendous field of candidates . . .so I step aside know our party is in good hands. As long as we listen to the grassroots, listen to that cause of conservatism, our party will be in good hands."

Hmm, as I write it, to me it is also a swipe at the so-called GOP "leadership" in Washington, D. C.
The reason that Mr. Perry is dropping out is the age-old problem of a candidate that can not even draw more than 2.5% does not get any money. And Mr. Perry was burning through what money he was getting trying to breakthrough a field of 16 other candidates.
As the article points out, when Mr. Perry ran in 2012, it did not turn out so well and he was seen as a lightweight in being unable to fully name three cabinet departments that he would eliminate. I personally do not think that people were thinking about that as much as that there are other candidates that in many ways saying the same thing this time around.
The issue that should have put Mr. Perry in the top tier, illegal immigration, was taken by the Donald. Somehow, people do not trust a border governor that took on the current occupant of the White House in regard to illegal immigration over a bloviator that talks a good game.
Mr. Perry was in my top five of candidates to look at carrying the torch of conservatism but when you can't be taken seriously by so many with bad poll numbers, it does not matter.
I leave you with this quote taken by Allahpundit over at Hot Air from the former Texas governor:

"For me the message has always been more important than the man. The conservative movement has always been about principles, not personalities. Our nominee should embody those principles. He - or she  - must make the case for the cause of conservatism more than the cause of their own celebrity."

I can tell you who will not be getting any endorsement from Rick Perry.