DES MOINES, Iowa — Rick Perry arrived in Iowa last August like the rock star of the Republican presidential race. He is trying to make his departure a more discreet affair.

The Texas governor is preparing a last-minute push to avoid an embarrassing showing in Tuesday's Iowa caucuses, meeting with his volunteers early in the day and then encouraging potential caucus-goers at two town halls.

With his poll standing sliding and others outpacing his organization, he is already looking ahead to South Carolina's first-in-the-South primary to reboot a campaign that began with such promise.

A buoyant Perry tried to encourage supporters on Monday as his campaign bus rolled from the conservative northwest corner of the state back to his campaign base near Des Moines.