Candidates Who Are Not Named Herman Cain To Get Media Attention Tonight

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Remember Rick Perry? Mitt Romney? Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul and the rest? They’re still alive, and they’re still running for president. And in just a few hours they’re going to get some serious screen presence for the first time since Politico blew up Herman Cain’s world and pushed everyone else off the map.

That’s right: it’s time for another Republican primary debate.

At 8 PM Eastern, the candidates will gather in Michigan for a debate hosted by CNBC. It’ll be a good chance to talk about the economy, the European Crisis and oh, right: that Cain scandal.

Cain was the main target at the last debate (in Las Vegas) too. But that time the focus was Cain’s 999 plan, which every candidate on stage had something bad to say about. Tonight’s debate could be the moment when Cain’s scandals become the focus of his rivals.

They’ve mostly stayed away from the sexual harassment allegations rocking Cain so far, but there are signs that’s starting to change. Romney called the newest allegations “serious” in an interview Tuesday, and he might take his first real swipes at the man who had been challenging his status as frontrunner tonight.

For the rest of the field, it’ll probably just be nice to get on TV again. The Cain scandal has taken over coverage of the campaign, leaving candidates like Bachmann — who really needs a break and fast if she’s going to ever be viable again — stuck on the sidelines.

On the other hand, the coverage hole has probably helped Perry, who sidestepped talk of some embarrassing footage of a speech he gave in New Hampshire recently thanks to Cain’s very public flopping around in the face of the growing sex scandal.

The debate probably couldn’t come at a better time for Newt Gingrich, who’s enjoyed something of a renaissance as Cain has faltered. Debates have been great for him, and this one could help boost his rising star even higher.

It will likely be a little strange at first to see all these candidates who aren’t Cain on TV again. But it probably won’t take Twitter long to turn to lamenting how there are too many debates this year again. And all will be right with the world.

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