Fundraising for Rick Perry's second presidential campaign has apparently run dry, and the former Texas governor has stopped paying his staff, the Washington Post reported.

The political action committee supporting Perry's White House run, which is technically independent of the campaign, however, is expanding its operation to compensate for the shortcomings. But in the meantime, employees at the national headquarters in Austin, as well as in the early caucus and primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, are going without paychecks.

"As the campaign moves along, tough decisions have to be made in respect to both monetary and time related resources," campaign manager Jeff Miller is said to have told workers last Friday. "Governor Perry remains committed to competing in the early states and will continue to have a strong presence in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina."

In his first month on the trail, Perry has raised only about $1 million -- not enough to cover his payroll, the Associated Press detailed. And the embarrassing money issues plaguing his campaign "could leave future donors -- as well as potential primary voters -- wondering whether he can survive for the long haul in the crowded a GOP field," the newswire commented.

Bill Miller, a Texas-based Republican strategist, said the funding issue should not be underestimated.

"It's the deterioration of the campaign, and there's no pretty face, no makeup you can put on it," he noted. "It's like a NASCAR race. He's doesn't have the pole position, and now he doesn't even have a full tank of gas."

The Washington Post cites campaign finance reports that show that the Perry campaign raised $1.14 million in the second quarter of this year. On July 15, the campaign had $883,913 on hand.

Expenditures are thus being scaled down to bare essentials, which means, among other things, that the Texas governor will be flying commercial and only be accompanied by an aide or two, all of whom will stay in standard hotel rooms.