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Newt Gingrich's top 2012 campaign staffers quit en masse Thursday, saying collectively that they had a "different vision" for the floundering campaign. Reportedly, they felt

that Newt, who recently enjoyed a premature vacation, was ignoring his aides' advice, and ceding too large a campaign role to his wife. But several analysts also note that two of the

fleeing aides, Rob Johnson and David Carney, are former key advisers to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), who is reportedly seriously considering a 2012 presidential run himself. Is the Gingrich

exodus proof that Perry's assembling his own team? YES, PERRY'S ALL BUT RUNNING: Johnson and Carney only signed on with Gingrich after Perry said no to a White House bid, says

Roger L. Simon at _Pajamas Media_. "Now it seems almost certain that events have conspired to convince Perry to run," so I bet these aides are Texas-bound. The GOP field definitely

has space for a "charismatic," successful, Tea Party–aligned, "natural politician" like Perry, and if (or when) he jumps in, the nomination is his to lose.

"Gingrich staff quits: Is the Republican nomination Perry's to lose?" SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEK Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from

multiple perspectives. SUBSCRIBE & SAVE SIGN UP FOR THE WEEK'S FREE NEWSLETTERS From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered

directly to your inbox. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. NO, PERRY'S JUST THE LATEST GOP

"TEASE": "On the surface, he's a strong candidate if he runs," say Larry Sabato and Kyle Kondik at _Sabato's Crystal Ball_. "But Perry probably isn't

running." Like the other dithering big-name GOP candidates "performing their best Hamlet" impressions, Perry likely enjoys "stirring the pot." He doesn't poll

well, even among Texas Republican primary voters, and the state's "powers that be" are also hinting they'd prefer the governor to "ride off into the sunset."

"GOP 2012 update: The big tease" WE'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH: The theory that Perry is poaching Gingrich's team "passes the smell test," says Nate Silver at _The New

York Times_. After all, "even hopeless campaigns still pay the bills," so Johnson and Carney presumably wouldn't jump Gingrich's ship, no matter how demoralizing,

without a lifeboat. And Perry would easily raise lots of cash, and run a more "traditional campaign" than Gingrich. But the window for that type of run is closing, so if Perry

plans to be a contender, he'll have to jump in soon. "Questions amid the wreckage of Gingrich's campaign"