Is Cain able?

Tuesday's big GOP debate will focus on the economy — which should be right in new frontrunner Herman Cain's wheelhouse

Edward Morrissey

Herman Cain has participated in every single televised Republican presidential debate this year. In fact, Cain has been in the race longest, having launched his exploratory committee all the way back in January. And yet, it's only in Tuesday's debate in New Hampshire that Cain may have his real coming out party, as the other Republicans have to deal with the new phenomenon of Cain as a frontrunner.

We're entering the prime season for these debates, and time has run short for redemption and rebounds. Any mistakes in New Hampshire for any of the Republicans on stage could very well put an end to their hopes of winning the nomination. With Cain ascending into the top tier and Rick Perry in danger of permanently descending from it, expect both men to get plenty of scrutiny and attention from both moderators and their opponents. Will they succeed in strengthening their case as the alternative to Mitt Romney, or will they leave the door open for another so-called flavor of the month?

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Edward Morrissey

Edward Morrissey has been writing about politics since 2003 in his blog, Captain's Quarters, and now writes for HotAir.com. His columns have appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Post, The New York Sun, the Washington Times, and other newspapers. Morrissey has a daily Internet talk show on politics and culture at Hot Air. Since 2004, Morrissey has had a weekend talk radio show in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and often fills in as a guest on Salem Radio Network's nationally-syndicated shows. He lives in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota with his wife, son and daughter-in-law, and his two granddaughters. Morrissey's new book, GOING RED, will be published by Crown Forum on April 5, 2016.