Perry: I made the right decision

MESA, Ariz. — Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said he doesn't regret dropping out of the presidential race after the first two states, despite the uncertainty more than a month later about who will be the GOP nominee.

"I made the right decision," Perry told reporters after a CNN debate Wednesday, where he was in the spin room for Newt Gingrich. "I'm supporting Newt. Newt's been a great friend and a very good and capable individual for many years. I'm comfortable I'm in the right place."

But Perry acknowledged the race is no less settled then when he dropped out in January.

"I do think that this race is wide open," he said.

Perry endorsed Newt Gingrich after dropping out of the race just before the primary in South Carolina, and although Gingrich won that state handily, he has badly stumbled in every contest since.

"There's been ups and downs in this campaign," Perry said. "He's coming back, and he's coming back in a strong way, because we're back to talking about the issues the American people care about."