U.S. Republican party presidential candidates are scheduled to come together Wednesday night at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California for the first in a series of debates.

The debate could be Texas Governor Rick Perry's first time on the national stage with the full compliment of Republican presidential hopefuls. He left an appearance in South Carolina earlier this week to return to Texas to deal with the wildfires scorching the state. The Associated Press says Perry's debate participation in California is still in question.

Recent polls show Perry and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney competing for the lead in the Republican race. Minnesota congresswoman Michelle Bachmann is running third.

Meanwhile, two new polls give President Barack Obama the lowest approval rating of his presidency as he struggles to pump life into a sluggish U.S. economy.

Mr. Obama will address a joint session of congress Thursday to detail a new jobs package. The plan is expected to call for $300 billion in federal spending and tax cuts to get Americans employed.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney announced his own economic plan Tuesday. It includes corporate tax cuts, fewer government regulations for businesses, more domestic energy production and sanctions against China for alleged intellectual property theft.

The November 6, 2012 U.S. presidential election will be the country's 57th .