who reminded Perry that there were over 450,000 veterans in South Carolina, and Perry's stance on veteran's issues and social conservatism would be a natural fit there. Mike Huckabee, who ran for president in 2008, said Perry's "reassessment" was a poor choice, saying, "In a campaign you never say, 'I might not make it. I just think that was an incredibly bad blunder from a tactical standpoint." South Carolina and suspension of campaign Perry chose to write off New Hampshire and did not invest much time or money in the state, instead going to South Carolina. During a debate, he was critical of Obama's withdrawal from Iraq, and said he would send troops back into Iraq. He said it was a mistake to withdraw so early, and warned that the Iranians would come in and invade "literally with the speed of light". The government of Turkey responded to Perry's allegation that it was run by Islamic terrorists by stating that Perry's low rankings in the polls and primaries showed that his views were not widely shared. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the Secretary General of NATO stated: "I strongly disagree with these statements. And to be very brief I have noted that the Turkish foreign ministry said that Perry's comments were baseless and inappropriate." On January 19 two days before the South Carolina primary, Perry suspended his campaign and endorsed Newt Gingrich for president. Perry endorsed Mitt Romney after Gingrich suspended his campaign in late April. Endorsements Perry received endorsements from: U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe, Oklahoma U.S. Representatives John Carter of Texas Mike Coffman of Colorado Mike Conaway of Texas John Culberson of Texas Sam Graves of Missouri Jeb Hensarling of Texas Mike McCaul of Texas Candice Miller of Michigan Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina Steve Scalise of Louisiana Governors and state constitutional officers Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas Commissioner Michael G. Strain of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry State legislators California Assemblyman Daniel Logue Mississippi Henry Barbour, RNC National Committeeman and nephew of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. Florida Don Gaetz, state senator Jeff Brandes, state representative Dean Cannon, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Matt Gaetz, state representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera, State Representative and House Majority Leader South Carolina Harvey Peeler, State Senator and State Senate Majority Leader David Wilkins, former Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives