Republicans Prep For Debate In Arizona

08:06

February 22, 2012

Arizonans will head to the polls on Tuesday for the state's primary. The polls have been showing Mitt Romney in the lead, but GOP hopeful Rick Santorum is closing in.

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I could do well," the former Pennsylvania senator told supporters Tuesday after arriving ahead of any of his rivals for pre-debate campaigning in Arizona, a state long assumed a safe win for Romney.

In Arizona, the 29 delegates at stake all go to the top vote-getter. As a result, none of the candidates have devoted much time to the state and television ads have been scarce.

Tonight the candidates will meet in Arizona for their first debate in almost a month.

Guest:

Bruce Merrill, public opinion researcher and senior research fellow at Arizona State University's Morrison Institute for Public Policy

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This segment aired on February 22, 2012.