Tonight's Western Republican Presidential Debate

Tonight's CNN hosted Western Republican Presidential Debate in Nevada was supposed to be a game changer for certain candidates like Rick Perry of Texas and Michele Bachmann of Minnesota but unfortunately, in my opinion, it was not. Rick Perry was feisty as expected especially towards Mitt Romney but his feistiness seemed to have come short of puncturing Mitt Romney's momentum. Michele Backman's hackneyed slogan that "President Obama is a one-term president" will do little or nothing to put her back in contention for the top slot. The comedian (no pun intended) of the Pack, Herman Cain proved once again that he is actually in the race to win it no wonder his momentous surge in all national polls. He (Herman Cain) approached every question with tact, articulateness, and a convincing sincerity even admitting errors where he made one in the past. That was so un-politician-like. However, the size of his campaign organization, as well as his naivety in foreign policy may ultimately be his undoing in the long run. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul look(ed) like the jokers among the pack but hey, Ron Paul has managed to keep a large following and is not far behind in the polls. Newt Gingrich seemed tonight as he always does as the intellectual in the room but his past sins have continuously put a clog in his wheel. However, he managed to be a bridge-builder candidate by cautioning his counterparts against promoting bickering in keeping with Ronald Reagan's commandment that "No Republican should speak ill of another republican." The back-and-forth between Rick Perry and Mitt Romney almost overshadowed the whole debate with an eye-popping revelation that Mitt Romney many years ago hired illegal immigrants to work on his private property. It was very obvious that there exists a bitter animosity between Rick Perry and Mitt Romney and the way they attacked and handled attack from each other contrasted heavily with the more mature way Herman Cain for instance approached attacks targeted at him. Overall, I strongly think Michele Backmann's White House dream remains an elusive mirage; Ron Paul's, an unrealistic one; Rick Santorum's, a joke; Newt Gingrich's, a wild goose chase; Rick Perry's, a hope almost dashed; Herman Cain's, full of realistic prospects; and Mitt Romney's, an almost done deal. This Republican presidential race will remain an enigmatic spectacle that will continue to unravel as long as it lasts even as we learn new damaging facts about individual candidates and the devils in their individual plans and proposals. Establishment Republicans believe Mitt Romney is the guy that can give President Obama a run for his money but hard-core conservatives simply do not like his "flip-flop" positions on divers issues, his (past) record, and his Mormon religion. Could Herman Cain be the eventual winner of this fiery battle? His demeanor and attitude in the face of criticisms and aggression as well as his steady rise in the polls suggest so. Could anyone of them actually cause Obama sleepless nights? Only time will tell.