Here's What's At Stake For Each GOP Candidate In Tonight's Debate

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The Republican presidential candidates will face off for the first time tonight with front-runner Texas Gov. Rick Perry on the stage. The event at the Reagan Presidential Library kicks off a five-week gauntlet of debates that will sharpen the distinctions between the candidates, and provide more certainty in a crowded field.

With President Barack Obama's jobs speech scheduled for Thursday night, much of the debate will center around the economy and job creation — a topic that is increasingly defining this primary campaign.

Here's what's at stake for the candidates:

Newly anointed GOP front-runner Rick Perry: He's leading in national polls, but can he withstand the forthcoming assault from both the left (Romney) and the right (everyone else, save Huntsman). He'll be combative, but a pitfall would be to overly-engage with lesser candidates. His main concern now needs to be proving his general election mettle — and that doesn't come from attacking Ron Paul.Former Massachusetts Gov. (and former front-runner) Mitt Romney: He largely stayed above the fray in the last debate, but he has little choice but to go on the attack tonight. He just introduced a jobs plan, which should give him a bit of extra ammunition. This is one of his last chances to put a dent in Perry's armor before the front-runner moves out of reach.Rep. Ron Paul: The libertarian candidate's campaign is remarkably static in the polls, gaining the support of about 10 percent of the primary electorate. But Paul is increasingly prying his way into the national conversation, and has begun taking shots at Perry this week. Expect him to continue his offensive tonight and in the weeks ahead.Rep. Michele Bachmann: The Ames Straw Poll winner's campaign has lost all of its momentum in the last month, with Perry stealing her supporters and money. After a shakeup over the weekend, polls showed Bachmann with the support of only 6% of the GOP electorate. She needs to prove she's still relevant.Herman Cain: The former Godfather's Pizza CEO only remains a factor in the campaign inasmuch as he forces fringe issues like opposition to Sharia law into the mainstream. He won't be heard from much tonight.Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman: His campaign has been getting more media attention — but little extra poll support — from his jobs plan announced last week and the accompanying media blitz. His campaign strategy is to attack Romney in order to win New Hampshire, and then present himself as the most electable candidate. He'll try to make headway in both areas tonight.Former Sen. Rick Santorum: He placed better than expected in the Iowa Straw Poll and has carved out a niche as the most social conservative candidate in the race. Largely absent from the last debate — he even had to ask for a question because he was being ignored. Santorum will attack Perry from the right tonight, while pressing for more opportunities to introduce himself to the American people — but his path to the GOP nomination remains almost non-existent.Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich: His quixotic campaign has taken him to far-flung (and equally irrelevant) states like Hawaii, while his poll numbers and fundraising have dropped like a stone. He's going to make use of what's left of his political comeback tonight, but do little else.Please follow Politics on Twitter and Facebook.
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Is Jon Huntsman The New Candidate Of The Conservative Intellectual Elite?

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The Wall Street Journal's editorial board endorsed presidential candidate Jon Huntsman's economic growth plan in a column published in Friday's paper.

The board declared that the plan put forward Wednesday by the former Utah governor and Ambassador to China "is as impressive as any to date in the GOP Presidential field, and certainly better than what we've seen from the front-runners." 

Last month the same editorial writers called on fiscal conservatives like Rep. Paul Ryan and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to enter the GOP presidential race — calling the declared candidates a "weak field." But weeks later it seems conservative intellectual class has found its candidate, albeit a longshot one, in Huntsman.

The far-reaching plan would upend the nation's tax code, rein in government regulation and promote free trade agreements.

"Perhaps Mr. Huntsman should be asked to give the Republican response to the President's jobs speech next week," the editorial says. "The two views of what makes an economy grow could not be more different."

While he only polls in the low single-digits, Huntsman said today he will win the New Hampshire primary despite a major campaign shakeup in the first in the nation primary state.

Regardless, his plan — and the positive response it has gotten from fiscal conservatives — is enough to get Mitt Romney worried. The former Massachusetts governor will announce his own plan on Tuesday, and he is under pressure to cater it to appeal to the tea party. Such a move would weakening his position in the eyes of the so-called "conservative intelligentsia," who haven't found a candidate to get behind — until now.

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