Where did it all go wrong?

1 Oct: Raises eyebrows after saying he would consider sending US troops into Mexico to fight drug war

28 Oct: An unusually animated speech by Perry in New Hampshire prompts him to deny speculation he was drunk or on medication

10 Nov: In a debate, Perry can’t remember the name of a third government department he would eliminate if elected

29 Nov: Mistakenly refers to the minimum voting age as 21 (it’s 18)

6 Dec: Is fiercely criticised for a campaign ad attacking gays in the military and claiming children can’t celebrate Christmas

8 Dec: Corrects himself after saying US had been at war in Iran, rather than Iraq

9 Dec: Says eight justices sit on the Supreme Court (the number is nine)

3 Jan: Reconsiders campaign after flop in Iowa, only to change his mind, distributing a photo of himself in athletic attire, giving a thumb-up

11 Jan: Attacks Romney as a “vulture” capitalist, provoking conservative outcry that he should not criticise the free-market system

16 Jan: His remark in a TV debate that Turkey is ruled by “Islamic terrorists” is seen as yet another gaffe