delivered a speech criticizing a $535 million bailout the Obama administration gave to the solar power industry, saying it was "lost to the country Solyndra", in spite of the fact that Solyndra is a company, not a nation. Perry reflected on his presidential campaign in December 2011 and attempted to downplay his gaffes, saying voters were not looking for "someone who's gonna be perfect in every way." He spoke candidly about back pain which remained during his early months on the trail, saying he was "fatigued" after his surgery in July 2011, but was feeling healthier and noticed personal improvements in his energy levels. Vanity Fair printed a story ascribing Perry's demeanor during the early debates to his being "uncomfortable" as he twisted his torso and wore orthopedic shoes and a back brace. A Reuters article predicted that the early caucuses of South Carolina could be "Perry's last stand" to prove himself a viable candidate, but his strong campaign finances would enable him to sustain a campaign without increasing popular support. The National Journal featured a story on Dave Carney, Perry's campaign strategist since 1998, observing that he was astute and methodical in his operations, and that the campaign enjoyed good funds and organization. The article stated that the campaign's "biggest failing" was "the candidate and his ability to deliver a message." Further setbacks and reassessment The 11,911 signatures that the Perry campaign submitted to place his name on the Virginia primary ballot were judged to not have the required valid 10,000 signatures, as was the case also with the slightly fewer signatures submitted by Newt Gingrich's campaign. As a result, only Mitt Romney and Ron Paul qualified from among the field of Republican candidates. Perry filed a federal lawsuit claiming the state's requirements for ballot access are unconstitutional. After results from the Iowa caucuses on January 3, 2012 indicated that Perry would finish fifth with just over 10% of the vote, he stated that he would "return to Texas, assess the results of tonight's caucus, [and] determine whether there is a path forward for myself in this race." The next morning, his campaign director told staff that Perry would not come to a decision for another "day or two", but hours later, Perry told reporters that he would continue forward and would refocus his efforts on South Carolina. Perry was encouraged to continue forward by a friend of his,