Tonight marks the return of America’s favorite reality show, The GOP Debate. With a moderator from Fox and three conservatives trying desperately to stop Mitt Romney and keep their campaigns afloat, it promises to be a feisty episode. Romney is the only candidate with anything to lose, so expect him to attempt a repeat of his favorite debate strategy-staying silent while the Not Romneys duke it out. Newt Gingrich is a distant second in South Carolina’s latest polls, and he knows Saturday’s primary is his last chance to steal Romney’s thunder. It’s not likely to happen-unless Romney commits Rick Perry-level blunders, or elaborates on the kick he gets from firing people-but Gingrich will unleash all his sharpest attacks, especially his new Bain-themed favorites. Rick Santorum will, as always, emphasize his social-conservative cred and try to make everyone else on stage-especially Romney-look liberal by comparison. Ron Paul, the only candidate unflustered by the horse race, will get to reprise his always-entertaining role as the high-pitched spokesman for idiosyncrasy. And although Jon Huntsman, after dropping out today, won’t be offering up his usual esoteric wit at the debate, his dirt remains on site for all to admire, in a supremely weird sand sculpture of the candidates commissioned by the host city of Myrtle Beach.

So They Say

“To do this exploratory committee, I had to give away my Super PAC. That’s my baby. Do you know how hard it is to give away a baby? Now imagine if that baby had a whole lot of money. Imagine how much harder that would be to give away.”

–New presidential candidate Stephen Colbert

Daily Meme: Huntsman’s Wake

  • Dude was just too nice for the modern presidential election.
  • Who will the lonely Jon Huntsman supporters rally behind now?
  • When there’s only five of them, does the Huntsman supporters’ new choice for president even matter?
  • Huntsman 2016 anyone?
  • Nope. How about Huntsman 1988?
  • Isn’t it time for everyone else to get out of the race too?
  • And one last parting shot at Huntsman’s sense of humor.

What We’re Writing

  • Jamelle Bouie thinks that Huntsman’s endorsement of Romney is one last insult fired at the GOP base.
  • Patrick Caldwell lays out the social-conservative infighting after this weekend’s evangelical summit.

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What We’re Reading

  • Wall Street Journal: Gingrich tries out a new battle strategy against Romney.
  • Daily Beast: Andrew Sullivan defends Obama’s first-term and says the incumbent has been playing a long game.
  • The New Yorker: Ariel Levy profiles the grown-up in the Gingrich household.
  • Politico: Everyone is bored with the election already.
  • Wonkblog: Ezra Klein writes that whoever wins in 2012 also wins the recovery.
  • CNN: David Frum thinks that although South Carolina’s economy isn’t doing so hot, its primary voters are doing okay.

Poll of the Day

In national polls, Romney is the overwhelming favorite to get the nomination. Out of 16 competitive primary races since 1972, the candidate ahead in the polls after New Hampshire became the nominee 13 times. The only outliers? Hillary Clinton, Edmund Muskie, and Gary Hart.