Tonight on CNN, the declared (and semi-declared) Republican presidential candidates will gather for their first New Hampshire debate. A few things will be worth watching.
Mitt Romney: As the frontrunner, he could be the brunt of most attacks. In his first debate appearance of this cycle, Romney is going to want to establish that he alone has the gravitas to take on Obama.
Tim Pawlenty: Does he take the gloves off against Romney? Expect his “Obamneycare” line to come up tonight, whether he wants it to or not.
Newt Gingrich: Gingrich is a good debater. But he’d better bring his A game tonight, because a sub-par performance would put his floundering campaign on life support.
Herman Cain: Cain is rising in the polls and established himself as a strong debater in South Carolina. Can he continue to impress?
Michele Bachmann: This will be her first appearance in a presidential debate. How will she do?
Jon Huntsman: Ditto Huntsman, who is a very different candidate than Bachmann.
Gary Johnson: He’s an exceptionally long longshot, but it is too early to exclude a relatively recent former governor who is at least running a semi-serious campaign from a debate based on poll numbers that aren’t that different from people who were included. CNN probably should have invited him.
