Election 2016: Rick Perry Drops Out Of Presidential Race

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry announced Friday afternoon that he has ended his 2016 presidential candidacy. The decision comes just a day after CNN said the former Texas governor's low poll numbers had knocked him off the stage of next Wednesday's prime-time Republican debate, scheduled for the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.

Perry told the Eagle Forum that he shared the news with "no regrets" while at an event sponsored by the group in St. Louis. “We have a tremendous field -- the best in a generation -- so I step aside knowing our party is in good hands, and as long as we listen to the grassroots, the cause of conservatism will be too,” Perry said.

"That is why today I am suspending my campaign for the presidency of the United States," he said.

Perry became the first casualty of the presidential race. In most recent GOP polls, Perry barely won support from 1 percent of likely voters in a field of 17 candidates. Perry's campaign also has reportedly run out of money, rendering him unable to pay staffers. His entire staff in New Hampshire collapsed last week, with some aides heading to Ohio Gov. John Kasich's campaign, according to the Washington Post.

Other Republican candidates, including Donald Trump, were quick to react on social media to the end of Perry's campaign. "I wish him well -- I know he will have a great future!" Trump tweeted.

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush thanked Perry for his commitment to the party. Santorum tweeted, "getting to know you and Anita has been a great joy for our family. Thank you for your service friend."

Bush and Gov. Mike Huckabee also took to Twitter to praise Perry. "God bless Rick Perry for his continuing commitment to that cause," Bush tweeted.

In his statement, Perry said that he looks forward to the next chapter in his life with his wife, Anita Perry.

"We have our house in the country, we have two beautiful children and two adorable grandchildren, four dogs, and the best sunset from our front porch that you could ever imagine," he said.