With Obama looking beatable, the Republican candidates debate

Tonight, the Republican primary race gets serious with a debate at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in California. This is the first debate that Rick Perry, the governor of Texas and the current frontrunner, has taken part in.

The Republican nomination is now a far more attractive prize than many expected it to be. 53 percent of voters now disapprove of the job Obama is doing suggesting that he is beatable.

At the moment, the Republican nomination appears to be Perry’s to lose. He is benefitting from both the troubles of the Tea Party favourite Michele Bachmann, her campaign manager has just stepped down, and Republican establishment unease with the former frontrunner Mitt Romney.

What we haven’t seen yet is whether Perry can take a punch. But I expect we’ll find out the answer to that question tonight as the other candidates attempt to slow his momentum.