Rick Perry's "Oops" Moment Could Cost Him

Wednesday night's GOP debate featured an embarassing moment for Texas Governor Rick Perry. 

The Washington Post reports during the debate, Perry said there were three agencies of government he would eliminate when elected president.

Governor Perry proceded to name commerce and education. But he failed to name the third agency. 

A CNN article details Perry's struggle at this point. Perry said, "What's the third one there? Let's see. OK. So Commerce, Education, and the --. The third agency of goverment I would - I would do away with the Education, the Commerce, and - let's see. I can't. The third one, I can't. Sorry. Oops"

Both the Washington Post and CNN say Perry tried to defend the gaff by saying it was a "human moment" and that the struggle was "authentic". 

This moment is the latest in a turn in the wrong direction for Rick Perry. Last week, Perry gave a speech in New Hampshire that had some thinking Perry was intoxicated. This Huffington Post report says Perry denied the accusations.

"I was just giving a speech. I've given a thousand speeches. There are some that have probably been boring, some that have been animated, some that have been in between," Perry says in the report. 

Following these two mishaps, Perry vows to stay in the race for the Republican nomination for President. 

Perry told NBC's Today Show that there was no way he would be quitting the race after last night's mistake. 

The New York Times says Perry sent out fund-raising appeals to his supporters immediately after the mistake, citing human error. 

The Times says in the appeal, Perry compared his mistake to other famous mistakes in the past. The most notable comparison he made was one to former President Ronald Reagan. 

Governor Perry will be on The Late Show with David Letterman tonight (Thursday), reading the nightly Top 10 List. This will be Perry's final appearance of the day after going on five different news programs to try to correct his mistake and attempt to change public opinion.