BBC News with Zoe Diamond

The governor of Texas Rick Perry has ruled himself out of the race to become the Republican Party's candidate in the US presidential election. At a news conference, Mr Perry said there was no viable path forward for him and he was abandoning his campaign. Here's our Washington correspondent Jonny Dymond.

"As a Texan, I've never shied away froma fight," said Governor Perry, "but I know when it's time to make a strategic retreat."The governor of a big booming state was expected to do well in the race for the Republican nomination, but on the national stage, he failed to shine with weak organisation and poor public performances. One moment in a televised debate will go down in campaign history.