Rick Perry debates GOP field in California (VIDEO)

Rick Perry arrived back on the campaign trail Wednesday evening and early for his debate against seven other candidates in the Republican field for the White House at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in California.

The Texas governor, now the frontrunner GOP candidate according to six major national polls, looked relaxed, AFP reports. He had canceled a scheduled appearance at the Palmetto Freedom Forum in Columbia, South Carolina this week to deal with devastating fires raging in his home state. 

Joining him for in the two-hour debate, will be former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, making his second bid for the GOP nomination; Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, making third run for the White House; Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; businessman and former talk show host Herman Cain; former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania; and former Utah Gov. and former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.

According to CNN, Romney, the former front-runner in the polls, is now in second place to Perry, who is making his first appearance onstage with his competitors.

Bachmann had enjoyed a similar surge until Perry’s entrance, winning in a GOP presidential straw poll in Iowa in August.

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll gave Perry 38 percent against 23 percent for Romney, "while a Washington Post/ABC News poll put them on 27 percent and 22 percent," AFP reports.

According to the Washington Post:

Perry’s surge has been fueled partly by his popularity within the tea party movement — and partly by the growing view that he is the candidate best suited to defeat President Obama next fall. His decade-long leadership of Texas, including a record of job growth that has dramatically outpaced the rest of the nation, has also turned Republicans in his direction.

According to CNN, "the three debates this month and two next month will be major tests for Perry, who doesn't have a lot of recent experience debating political rivals."

Wednesday's GOP presidential debate is followed by debates in Tampa, Florida, on Sept. 12, Florida on Sept. 22, New Hampshire debate on Oct. 11, and Las Vegas, Nevada, on Oct. 18.