The Fast Fix: The 2012 presidential race begins

It's well over a year until the next Presidential election, but the Republican debate in New Hampshire will kick off the 2012 race Monday night. How will the candidates use this crucial platform?

There may still be 512 days until Americans pick their next president but debate season has officially begun!

Monday night in New Hampshire seven Republican contenders will gather at St. Anselm's College for what is regarded by many as the formal kickoff of the 2012 race.

All eyes will be on former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney who declared his candidacy earlier this month in New Hampshire and is widely regarded as the frontrunner in the Republican race.

For Romney to win the nomination, he must win the New Hampshire primary -- a journey that starts with today's debate.

Another candidate with something to prove is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich who is struggling to rebuild his campaign after virtually of his senior staff quit late last week.

Gingrich has promised to soldier on but has to show some signs of life or run the risk of being deemed totally irrelevant in the race. The New Hampshire debate is Gingrich's best chance to show that he can make a comeback.

The lesser known candidates in the field -- people like businessman Herman Cain and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum -- are likely to use the debate stage to introduce themselves to primary voters who probably haven't heard of them.

The entire political world will be watching. And that means what's said on the stage in New Hampshire will matter in the race to come.

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