Gingrich Enters Tonight’s Debate With Front-Runner Status

The 12th debate of the Republican nominating campaign will be held tonight in Iowa.

It's the first debate since Herman Cain suspended his campaign a week ago, and the first with Newt Gingrich as the front-runner. Gingrich has emerged as the leader in Iowa and some other early-voting states after his campaign nearly disintegrated last summer.

A developing Gingrich-Romney rivalry threatens to overshadow the four other candidates scheduled to attend the debate at Drake University: Reps. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Ron Paul of Texas, along with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

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