Rick Perry will not seek re-election as Texas governor

Texas Gov. Rick Perry. (Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press)

You know it's lights out when a politician starts quoting from the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Amid much speculation about his political future, Rick Perry announced Monday that he would not seek a fifth term as governor of Texas.

"Today I am announcing I will not seek re-election as governor of Texas," Perry told supporters at a campaign-style rally in San Antonio.

Perry, who has served as Texas' governor since former President George W. Bush left the job for the White House in 2000, quoted the Bible and a country music song before saying the "time has come" for him to step aside.

"In the book of Ecclesiastes, it teaches us, for everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. I think it's the book of Darrell Royal that teaches us to 'dance with the one that brung ya,'" Perry said. "I remain excited about the future and the challenges ahead."

Perry ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination last year, and said he will serve out the rest of his term until January 2015.

In his remarks, he did not explicitly rule out a second run for the White House in 2016, saying he would "pray and reflect and work to determine" his "own future path. Perry added that he will make announcements about his future plans "in due time."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/news/rick-perry-not-seek-election-texas-governor-184441091.html