by
Will Weissert
Associated Press
Associated Press
September 07, 2011 03:37 PM | 225 views | 0

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Gov. Rick Perry holds a news conference to discuss wild fires in central Texas, Monday, Sept. 5, 2011, in Bastrop, Texas. A roaring wildfire raced unchecked Monday through rain-starved farm and ranchland in Texas, destroying nearly 500 homes during a rapid advance fanned in part by howling winds from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ Texas Gov. Rick Perry has left the wildfires raging in his home state and arrived in California for a Republican presidential debate.
Perry suspended his campaign Sunday as his state battles a series of still-raging wildfires that have destroyed more 1,000 homes. He left Texas again for the first time Wednesday to head to California and debate GOP rivals.
Spokesman Mark Miner says Perry is in California and he’s been seen at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
The wildfires come just weeks after Perry entered the GOP presidential race and shot to the top of national polls taking an early measure of the Republican field.