Perry to hit the trail for Gingrich

KXAN TV

Updated: Feb 22, 2012 2:20 PM

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Rick Perry will make his first major campaign appearance for one-time rival Newt Gingrich, an aide to the governor said Wednesday.

Perry will hit the trail barely one month after he dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

He'll head to Arizona on Wednesday after being called by Gingrich, said Perry spokeswoman Catherine Frazier.

The governor is expected to be there ahead of a debate hosted by CNN and the Republican Party of Arizona at the Mesa Arts Center.

After a string of poor showings in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, Perry quit the race and endorsed Gingrich on Jan. 19.

He has not ruled out another bid for the presidency in 2016.

Perry "has been making finance calls for Newt, focusing mostly on Texas donors,” Frazier said. “Fund raising is, of course, an important aspect of his campaign at this point.”

The Arizona debate could likely be the final GOP debate. Much has changed since the last showdown in Florida on Jan. 26.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Romney won big in Florida and Nevada, while Gingrich – who earned a victory in South Carolina – has since begun to fade.

Since then, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania, swept Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri.

The Arizona debate comes ahead of next Tuesday’s primaries in Arizona and Michigan. Washington will follow on March 3 and ten other states on March 6 – Super Tuesday.

Frazier said that Perry "will be one of Newt’s guests at the debate.

"He’ll be doing radio interviews and the spin room afterward as (Gingrich’s) surrogate,” she said

Frazier said the appearances would also include a sit-down with CNN’s John King.
 

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