Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s deputy finance director, Louisa Imperiale, is leaving his presidential campaign, The Daily Caller has learned. In an email to friends, Imperiale cited “personal reasons” for her decision to leave the two-month-old campaign.
“Dear Friends, Just a quick note to let you know I have decided to leave the Perry campaign for personal reasons and return home to Washington, DC,” wrote Imperiale in her brief email. “It has been a pleasure working with and getting to know you, and I hope our paths will cross again soon.”
When contacted by TheDC, Perry campaign spokesman Mark Miner would only reiterate that Imperiale decided to leave because of “personal reasons.”
Perry’s campaign has fallen into turbulent waters since the Fox News–Google debate in Orlando, Florida at the end of September. His poll numbers have fallen, and the constant scrutiny and attacks directed at his Social Security and immigration policies seem to have taken a toll on his durability as a candidate.
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll Tuesday showed Perry tied with businessman Herman Cain in second place with 16 percent. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney topped the poll with 25 percent. (RELATED: Perry goes on the attack, refers to Mitt Romney as ‘Obama-lite’)
A separate Florida poll showed Perry slipping to fourth place with only 9 percent support, behind Romney, Cain and Newt Gingrich.