Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said he has no endorser remorse for his early backing of Texas Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican presidential race and wished his friend well Thursday hours after Perry bowed out of his White House bid.
"Rick Perry is a good friend and a great leader. I wish Rick, Anita, and his family all the best," Sandoval said in a statement.
In an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, Sandoval said he would stay in Perry's corner until the end.
"Gov. Perry's my friend," Sandoval said, who seemed unaware of Perry's dismal finish in the New Hampshire primaries a week earlier, where the Texas governor finished dead last in a six-way contest, pulling in less than 1 percent of votes.
"I think he's as disappointed as anybody with the way the campaign has come out. I think loyalty in politics and friendship should mean something," Sandoval said. "I'm going to stay with him."
But Perry's end came Thursday, when he announced he was abandoning his presidential bid two days before the South Carolina primary and supporting Newt Gingrich.
Perry had taken heat for calling Social Security a "Ponzi scheme," and he later suggested making Congress a part-time elected office.
Sandoval said he last talked with Perry in October before the Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas.
The Nevada governor said he didn't agree with all of Perry's positions but admires what he has done as Texas governor.
"I've had an opportunity to observe him privately and publicly, and he's a man or integrity; he's a very strong leader," Sandoval said.
"He's going to go back to Texas and be one of the great governors of this country."
Nevada Republicans hold their presidential caucuses Feb. 4. GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney carried the state in 2008.
With Perry out of the race, Sandoval gave no hint to suggest he would endorse another Republican candidate until the primary battles play out.
"Once there is a Republican nominee, that person will have my full support," he said.