The Hill News

GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday poached a top supporter from his fellow candidate Newt Gingrich in yet another blow to the latter's fledgling campaign.

Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue (R), who was a national co-chairman of Gingrich's campaign, jumped ship and endorsed the former Minnesota governor after a slew of Gingrich's senior aides resigned over an internal dispute over the direction of his campaign.

"Tim Pawlenty is a great man, he was a phenomenal governor, and he is the person I now believe stands the greatest chance of defeating President Obama," Perdue said in a statement. "He is the only candidate who has laid out a real plan to grow the American economy, and his track reco! rd in Minnesota is proof he's the right man for the job."

Perdue's depature could make it even more difficult for Gingrich (R-Ga.), the former House Speaker, to pick up the pieces of his campaign. He pledged to move on, writing on his Facebook page Thursday that he would not be dropping out.

"I am committed to running the substantive, solutions-oriented campaign I set out to run earlier this spring. The campaign begins anew Sunday in Los Angeles," he wrote.

Perdue has strong ties to Pawlenty's campaign: the Minnesotan's campaign manager, Nick Ayers, oversaw Perdue's successful run for governor in 2006.

"I am thrilled Governor Perdue is joining my campaign. He is revered among governors as a thoughtful, sincere man whose faith, character and passion for good policy is second to none. He's a dear friend and with his help we're going to continue to build momentum to win the nomination and ultimately the presidency," Pawlenty said.