How much influence does Rick Perry have in Arizona? Newt Gingrich hopes it's a lot. According to the Dallas Morning News, Perry will travel to Mesa, Arizona for Wednesday's GOP debate. Perry will try to put Gingrich in the best light he can.

But Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan told Fox News today that Perry will step out for the first time on behalf of Gingrich. He'll be in Mesa at next Wednesday's CNN debate among the four remaining GOP candidates. It's likely he'll be doing spin room duties or otherwise standing in to praise Gingrich, who is now trailing behind Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum in most polls.

I don't know how much Perry can help the Gingrich campaign really. I think Newt's best hope is that he has a knockout debate and that Santorum does something to weaken himself.

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