Rick Perry Praises Rick Scott as Debate Opens

Asked how small businesses can hire new employees, Texas Gov. Rick Perry started the Republican presidential debate in Orlando on Thursday night with a word of praise for Florida Gov. Rick Scott as a competitor to lure jobs. Scott is climbing back from low polling earlier in the year -- hes rounding up Republicans after a very bloody primary with then-Attorney General Bill McCollum in 2010.

While his opponents insist that Scott is politically poisonous, its telling that Perry started the debate with a small bouquet for the governor of the Sunshine State. Scott remains popular with Florida Republicans, and Perry doubtlessly knows this.