Perry's In. Romney, Bachmann, Paul, Huntsman, Pawlenty, Santorum, Gingrich, Cain... and Obama Hardest Hit

This is about as close to an official announcement as we'll get before Saturday:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry will make "a definitive announcement that he is in the 2012 race for the presidency Saturday," aides told Fox News.

The language is significant. For several days the Perry camp has said he would signal his intentions and announce later.

"This is it," the sources explain. No exploratory committee, no more deliberation.

Perry will spend most of next week on the road officially campaigning.

Team Perry acknowledges they had only been hinting about a run earlier, but now tells Fox News first that Saturday is the official launch.

The Iowa debate and Straw Poll are now official irrelevant.  Who do you think will be the first GOP candidate in the debate tonight to take a shot at Perry?  You know it's gonna happen.  I'm thinking Bachmann, but we'll see.