Rick Perry could skip future GOP debates

Texas Governor Rick Perry may skip some of the upcoming Republican presidential debates, the Associated Press reports.

Perry's drop in the polls over the last several weeks has been attributed, by some, to his lackluster performances at several debates. 

Perry aides told the AP that he has committed to participate in a debate on November 9, but has not committed to any beyond that. 

Bloomberg reports that there are three debates scheduled for the first half of November alone, and at least seven more planned for December and January, when caucuses and primaries begin. 

“There have been eight GOP primary debates to date with 16 more scheduled over the next 12 weeks,” Perry communication director Ray Sullivan told Bloomberg in an email. “We need to determine on a case-by-case basis whether and how these fit into our schedule given the pressing need to meet actual voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and other early voting states.”

Perry spokesman Mark Miner said that after the November 9 debate, each subsequent debate "will be given appropriate consideration.”

Earlier this week, Perry suggested to Fox News' Bill O'Reilly that participating in all the debates was a mistake. 

"These debates are set up for nothing more than to tear down the candidates. It pretty hard to be able to sit and lay out your ideas and your concepts with a one minute response," Perry told O'Reilly after being asked what mistakes he'd thought he'd made, according to Real Clear Politics.