GOP Presidential Debate Set for Sept. 7

Tim Pawlenty is gone. Texas governor Rick Perry is in. And the rest of the field remains the same in the fourth GOP presidential debate this year, Politico reports.

The September 7 showdown of Republican contenders at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation debate will be the first since Perry, who has a double-digit lead over former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in two recent national surveys, formally announced his White House bid August 13.

The post-Labor Day debate will be held at the Reagan Library's Air Force One Pavilion in Simi Valley, Calif., and is hosted in conjunction with Politico and NBC News. Brian Williams of NBC and Politico editor in chief John F. Harris will moderate.

Those who met the eligibility standards to participate (a formal presidential bid announcement and at least 4% support in one of eight national surveys) and accepted the invitation are Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum.

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