Rhode Island requires 1,000 signatures for a presidential candidate to get on a presidential primary ballot. No one can circulate who didn’t file a declaration of candidacy by Saturday, January 21. The only Democrat who filed is President Obama. Seven Republicans filed the declaration of candidacy: Mark Callahan, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Buddy Roemer, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum.

Presumably, most, but not all, of those Republicans are now circulating the petition, which is due February 2. Of course it is virtually certain that Rick Perry is not circulating a petition. The Rhode Island Republican Party is helping circulate petitions for the candidates it recognizes. Any registered voter may sign, even though Rhode Island has registration by party. The primary is April 24.