WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (KXAN) – It might be too soon to say for sure, but Gov. Rick Perry’s fifth-place finish in the Iowa Caucus paints a pretty dreary picture for the life of his presidential campaign forward.

In his concession speech Tuesday night, Perry told a crowd in West Des Moines he will leave the campaign trail and head home to Austin, breaking from his previous plan for a few days to make decisions going forward.

“With the voters’ decision tonight, I’ve decided to return to Texas, assess the results of tonight’s caucus, determine whether there is a path forward for myself in this race,” Perry said.

Former  Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney were neck and neck for the Iowa win around midnight, each with 25 percent with Santorum on top by just a few votes.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul was third with 21 percent, followed by former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich with 13 percent and Perry with 10 percent. Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who won the state’s straw poll last year, had five percent, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman had one percent.

In the next race, New Hampshire’s primary next week, the latest Suffolk University survey shows Perry in a distant fifth, where his campaign likely knows winning is a long shot. Before Tuesday’s post-caucus schedule change, he intended to bypass that New Hampshire altogether and head to the third race – South Carolina – to campaign early. According to the latest Real Clear Politics poll, he is also polling in fifth place there.

“With a little reflection…I am going to decide the best path forward,” he said. “There is a model to take this country forward, and it is in the great state of Texas.”

Central Texas GOP members at the Republican Club of Austin told KXAN they are paying attention to the polls and are crossing their fingers for the governor.

“It’s getting ready for the big league,” said Davida Stike. “This is practice for the future.”

“We’re looking for a miracle for our governor,” said Aida Riddle. “It’s not too late for him to catch up, I think.”

At a central Austin caucus watch party, local Democrats told KXAN that it is time for Perry to throw in the towel.

“I’m pretty sure he’ll fizzle out relatively soon,” said Austin Adams, a Democratic activist.

“Even Republican primary voters recognize that this guy’s no good,” said Katherine Haenschen, editor in chief of the left-leaning blog, Burnt Orange Report

Someone who sneaked up on Perry in Iowa was Rick Santorum who surged to the top tier in the last week or so. His strong finish in Iowa might help him appeal to voters as South Carolina’s conservative alternative to Romney.

Santorum has spent more time campaigning in that southern state than his opponents, which might not be good news for Perry’s campaign, if he decides to continue in the race.