The chances of Texas governor Rick Perry becoming front-runner for the Republican nomination to take on Barack Obama rose on Thursday after a lacklustre showing by other candidates in the biggest debate so far.
Perry's office confirmed on Thursday he is planning to announce that he will join the race on Saturday at a conservative conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
Perry's entry came too late for him to participate in Thursday's debate in Ames, Iowa. It was an important debate, coming at the start of three hectic days of campaigning in the state where the first of the Republican caucuses is scheduled to be held in February.
Eight declared candidates took part but no clear winner emerged from what was a largely dull two hours. It was enlivened only by lively personal exchanges between Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and the former governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, whose campaign is faltering.
Asked about Perry's imminent arrival in the race, the candidates were polite, with one describing him as formidable and another welcoming both him and Sarah Palin, should she choose to stand. Palin is scheduled to make a public appearance in Iowa on Friday.
Pawlenty badly needs to revive his campaign by doing well in the Iowa straw poll on Saturday, a traditional test of would-be presidential candidates. If he fails, he could see his remaining financial backers desert him.
Under pressure, his main target was predictably Bachmann, winner of the previous debate in New Hampshire and who is leading in the polls in Iowa. Adopting a patronising tone, he said Bachmann had done little in her five years in Congress. "She has done some wonderful things in her life but it is an indisputable fact that her record of accomplishment and results is nonexistent," Pawlenty said, trying to compensate for his failure to make an impact in the New Hampshire debate and shed his image of dullness.
But he picked on the wrong candidate. Bachmann came back recalling his record in office as governor on health, energy and trade. "That sounds a lot more like Barack Obama's record," she said. She also raised his record on abortion, a litmus issue for Republicans.
After a series of personal exchanges, Pawlenty called her position as "illogical".
Romney was left unscathed, which his campaign team was happy about. But Perry's arrival could provide him with real competition by the time of the next debate, in California, in September.
Pawlenty's jibes, which appeared to be prepared in advance, are unlikely to have swayed many doubters. Others who failed to make much of an impression included former senator Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich.
Jon Huntsman made his debate debut. He has struggled in the polls, too close to the centre for many conservatives and also, unforgivable for many Republicans, he worked in the Obama administration as ambassador to China.
But his opening answer was poor. Asked for a detailed plan for tackling the economy, he said limply: "It is coming."
