Quotes of the Week

I have concluded there is no viable path forward for me in this 2012 campaign. Today I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich.

Rick Perry, dropping his presidential bid

Keep in mind that almost all of our nominees in the last 50 years have been on their second attempt at the White House, so Republican voters tend to like experienced candidates that they’ve seen for a long time.

Perry adviser Ray Sullivan, on the governor's future

Going into this, I think most of the Texas press thought that there was really a potential chance for Perry to make it to the nomination, or at least get close to it, just because he’d been kicking everybody’s ass down here for a decade.

Texas political reporter R.G. Ratcliffe, quoted by Politico

When he got started, I warned people not to underestimate Perry — he's a lot stupider than he looks.

Jim Hightower, who was Texas agriculture commissioner until Perry beat him in 1990, in the Los Angeles Times

He sure didn't tell me I was going to win.

Rick Perry, on God's hand in his bid for the presidency

I hope Ron Paul doesn’t get out until whoever our front runner is recognizes that the libertarian principles are the conscience of the Republican party.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina, on Fox Business, adding that he doesn't agree with Paul on everything.

We've put a halt on everything. Contributions, everything, right now. We don't know who's running and what districts they're running in.

Mark Lehman, who runs the PACs for the Texas Association of Realtors, on redistricting