Perry makes brief GOP health care caucus visit

In other campaign trail news, media outlets examine who is supporting and opposing GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich's run, and how health policies are playing into their decisions.  

Politico Pro: Perry Briefly Visits GOP Health Care Caucus
Texas Gov. Rick Perry visited with the House Republicans' Congressional Health Care Caucus Wednesday, but he didn't stay long. The Republican presidential hopeful's trip to the Cannon House Office Building was over about 20 minutes after it started, in part because of the House vote schedule. Perry's speech was closed press, unlike visits to the caucus by Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain. He took no questions on his way out. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), who invited Perry, said the governor spoke about Texas's tort reform record and his vision for national reform and got some questions about Medicare (Haberkorn, 12/7).

Boston Globe: Tea Party Members Get Behind Gingrich
Newt Gingrich's appeal is not universal among Tea Party conservatives, but for now he is their anointed warrior, boosted by his string of fiery debate performances filled with irreverent quips. ... Many of the movement's leaders remain wary of the former House speaker and cast a skeptical eye at his conservative credentials. In Gingrich, some see nothing more than baggage and a history of Romney-esque flip flops. Particularly troubling, they say, are his shifting views on global warming and health care overhaul (Jan, 12/8).

The Fiscal Times: Why Senior Voters Will Turn Against Newt Gingrich
At a time when seniors groups are hollering "Don't touch my Social Security and Medicare," the former House speaker wants to touch both, in profound ways. ... he has advocated a private alternative to the Medicare health care system for seniors that he says would enhance competition and bring down overall health care costs (Pianin, 12/8).