Rick Perry gets laughs on 'Late Show'

NEW YORK, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Republican Presidential hopeful and Texas Gov. Rick Perry poked fun of his own lapse of concentration in a Top 10 list on "Late Show with David Letterman."

Perry made headlines when he lost his train of thought this week during a debate in Michigan. The politician said he would eliminate three cabinet-level agencies from the federal government if elected president, but then could only name two -- Commerce and Education. Later in the debate he remembered the third as Energy.

He appeared on Thursday's edition of "Late Show" and read a Top 10 list called "Rick Perry Excuses."

It went as follows --

10. Actually, there were three reasons I messed up last night: 1) the nerves and 2) the headache and 3) um… uh… oops.

9. I don't know what you're talking about -- I think things went well.

8. I was up late last night watching "Dancing with the Stars."

7. I thought the debate was tonight.

6. You try concentrating with Mitt Romney smiling at you. That is one handsome dude!

5. Uh, El Nino?

4. I had a five-hour energy drink six hours before the debate.

3. I really hoped it would get me on my favorite talk show, but instead, I ended up here.

2. I wanted to help take the heat off my buddy Herman Cain.

1. I just learned Justin Bieber is my father.