Republican Presidential Candidates Prepare to Debate
BALDWIN: As of today, it's really starting to feel like a presidential race. Tonight is the big night in New Hampshire, seven Republicans squaring off in the first major debate of the presidential primary season. Jessica Yellin is there for us. You know her. She's our national political correspondent. And, Jessica, is it time? Is this ready, set, go for real now, 2012?</s>JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, I just was over at the debate site. And I have to tell you, Brooke, it looked like it's election season all over again. It looked like the big time. I took a picture on my BlackBerry and I thought of tweeting it, but I'm really scared of Twitpics these days, so I'm not sending it.</s>BALDWIN: Very funny.</s>YELLIN: But, yes, this is the beginning.</s>BALDWIN: Well, obviously, there's a lot of people who will be watching tonight. We're going to have to see if Tim Pawlenty goes after Mitt Romney, and also Romney considered really, seeing the polls, a front-runner. In fact, he is aiming his attacks -- we heard him when he announced back in New Hampshire, right? He's aiming his attacks directly to President Obama. Also, Pawlenty seems to want to position himself as Romney's top rival. So is that -- Jessica, is that what you will be watching for, whether we see Pawlenty going after Romney?</s>YELLIN: I think that will be one of the key storylines that we will watch for tonight. All of the candidates, no doubt, will be taking some aim at Mitt Romney because he is the nominal front-runner at this point. What Tim Pawlenty has said is, he's pointed out that Mitt Romney passed this Romneycare -- what they're terming Romneycare, now Obamneycare, a health care measure that was so similar to the one President Obama passed. I think we have that sound bite. If you want to play it for a minute, we can talk about it.</s>BALDWIN: Yes. Let's roll it.</s>TIM PAWLENTY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, you don't have to take my word for it. You can take President Obama's word for it. President Obama said that he designed Obamacare after Romneycare and basically made it Obamneycare. And so we now have...</s>YELLIN: So -- OK, so why is this relevant? Two big things, Brooke. One is, Tim Pawlenty is sort of considered by thought leaders, Washington Republican operatives the likely sort of favorite establishment Republican if Mitt Romney should stumble and lose the front-runner status. So, he would theoretically have the most to gain. And this is an opportunity to show that Mitt Romney endorsed, in the Pawlenty people's view, a plan that embraces big-government values that in their view is very similar to the kind of big-government values that President Obama embraced that are so unpopular with the Republican voters. So they're trying to point out that contrast without seeming like they're too critical of a fellow Republican, which is a danger in itself.</s>BALDWIN: OK. So that is Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney. We're going to have five ore participants up there in New Hampshire with you tonight. And I'm going give you 15 seconds, Jessica Yellin.</s>YELLIN: Yes.</s>BALDWIN: I want you to run through them, tell me who they are, what they need to do.</s>YELLIN: Oh. Is there a clock?</s>BALDWIN: We're going to do a little free association. So, here we go. Newt Gingrich, 15 seconds. Go.</s>YELLIN: Gingrich just lost his whole staff, has to go up there, remind voters why they like him, which is that he's got a lot of passion, he's got a lot of ideas, but also have to point out that he can get things done. He can hire people and implement. That's the big challenge.</s>BALDWIN: Ron Paul. Go.</s>YELLIN: Ron Paul, favorite son. He -- the entire Republican universe has moved to embrace his views on debt, on spending. His big challenge will be, is he still the main guy now that there are so many others who are espousing his views? Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann will also be sharing his sort of positions. So, he will have a little competition in that corridor.</s>BALDWIN: OK. You mentioned Herman Cain. Herman Cain. Go.</s>YELLIN: Herman Cain. He is entertaining. He will come out of tonight with a lot of people who didn't know him talking about him. The rap on him is that he's a guy that voters overwhelmingly think communicates effectively, says a message that makes sense. People tend to like him. I think that he will probably, unless there's a big stumble, have a lot of new fans tomorrow.</s>BALDWIN: Two more. I have got former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum from the state of P.A. Who is he?</s>YELLIN: Santorum, he was a former U.S. senator. And his main message is about social issues. He also talks about the fiscal issues. But his area of comfort and what makes him unique is his focus on issues like abortion, issues like gay marriage. And to the extent he can draw the conversation to his comfort zone, he will stand out.</s>BALDWIN: And, finally, the sole woman, not declared, as you well know, Michele Bachmann.</s>YELLIN: Right.</s>BALDWIN: What does she have to do?</s>YELLIN: For her, the challenge will be to show that she can hold her own up there by staying off -- she's going to be off-script and has to be on-message and talk about issues that aren't always her Tea Party message, but mix it up on the economy, mix it up on some non-social issues. She's known for her social issues as well. But she has a very ardent following within a small, narrow sector of conservative voters. So she has to try to broaden her appeal.</s>BALDWIN: Whew. Bravo, Jessica Yellin.</s>YELLIN: Did I get it in, in time?</s>BALDWIN: I smell a new segment, free association with Jessica Yellin. You are good, girl. You're good.</s>YELLIN: Do I get a prize?</s>BALDWIN: I will think of something. I will think of something. I will tweet it to you.</s>YELLIN: OK.</s>BALDWIN: Jessica Yellin, thank you so much. Let's remind everyone, don't forget to watch the debate. Jessica ran down all these folks you will be seeing from 8:00 Eastern tonight only here on CNN. Coming up next, heart-wrenching testimony today in this Casey Anthony trial -- a forensic examiner describing what is believed to be a heart-shaped sticker found on the remains of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony. Plus, some good news about gas prices -- top stories next.