Perry, Romney Discuss Texas Wildfires Head Of Republican Presidential Debate

Steve

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September 08, 2011 03:59 AM

SMIM VALLEY, Calif. — Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney briefly discussed the wildfires in Texas before the Republican presidential debate in California.

Republican presidential candidates (L-R): Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Herman Cain, and Jon Huntsman stand on stage before the start of the Reagan Centennial GOP presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California September 7, 2011.

Asked by Romney whether the fires had been brought under control, Perry responded, “It’s still too early to tell. They’re serious; they’re mean.”

Perry left his home state Wednesday and flew to California to debate his Republican presidential rivals.

Candidates (L-R), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry are seen during the Reagan Centennial GOP presidential primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California September 7, 2011.

Firefighters are battling blazes across Texas. The most destructive is around Bastrop, about 25 miles from Austin.

Firefighters have game some ground on that fire, which is the most destructive wildfires in Texas history.

The blaze has left at least two people dead, destroyed 800 homes and blackened about 45 square miles around Bastrop.