SANTORUM, ROMNEY AND THE OTHERS.

"Slowdown, Buddy. We are all Republicans," look that Romney has for Santorum will not work for Romney, as Santorum will emphasize on the differences the two of them have politically, instead of strictly ideologically.

Today's debate is about who has a lot in common with the Republican Party base, where most of the votes for the primaries, caucuses and, yes, the presidential election, are.

Going away from that will be a mistake for either Romney or Santorum; however, Santorum seems to be ready for every eventuality, but his rival Romney is hedging; and that is whether he has all the facts to present against Santorum is the main question.

The issues are many, and they are confronting not just Republican candidates running for the party's nomination, but they also go for President Barack Obama, who will not be on the stage in Arizona.

However, his image will be reflecting on the minds of the audience and many people around the country all the same; notwithstanding the fact that he is many miles away from the debate venue.

He will have to find a way to redeem himself, if needs be, as his policies will be roasted before the American public, from gas prices going up through to religious belief systems.

Yet, there is no denying that the other contenders in the fray, Gingrich and Paul, will have to contribute to the debate as much as they wish, but much of the focus will be on Santorum and Romney to come up with sensible responses and cogent answers, both from the moderator, John King, and other sources.

Santorum has come forward even to the point of attacking "Obama's theology", which is not very clear whether he is questioning the president's religious beliefs or not. He. Santorum, is seemingly withdrawing from that remark, but many aspiring voters think that is what he is driving at in his recent statements.

When it comes to Romney, it is a little bit different, the way he is approaching the situation. There seems to be a great deal of evasiveness on his part, and that makes people to wonder.

“We believe Romney’s very good at what we would call ‘hit and run," and/or he Romney "“has a surrogate throw out half a story on Rick Santorum,” and then tries to lob shots from a safe distance."", says John Brabender, a Santorum adviser (Politico, 02/22/12).

Well, Romney is not going to have a place to hide his pretty face in a setting, which is being played out on national, live television. He has to present himself as a man, who can withstand pressure and be able to come from being knuckled under, as Obama has demonstrated many times over.

That is a mark of true leadership, and both Santorum and Romney must show that they also have that quality.

As for Gingrich, he will be making frivolous comments, such as "Obama is the most dangerous president in history"; but how, Mr. Gingrich?

He is doing so to please the Republican hierarchy, however, he must know by now that the party's elitists are not interested in him. From many insider reports, they are even looking for an "outsider".

In other words, Santorum and Romney are not satisfactory material to pit against Obama.

Tonight's debate will be pivotal for all the candidates, including Ron Paul, who seems to be out of range, because his chances to be the party's nominee are non-existent; or that is what many people are saying.

In fact, if any of them is likely to be a "crowd pleaser", he must direct that toward former Gov. Sarah Palin, for she can galvanize the "tea party" support that all the candidates need for any of them to really become the de facto front runner in the Republican Party nomination race.

Outrageous effusion by Gingrich does not help, when the country is facing all kinds of issues, such as Iran, Eurozone fiscal crisis and Mexican drug cartels operating in Texas.

He must consider that Obama has got too much on his plate, and as a true patriot he (Gingrich) must behave accordingly. The world is already a dangerous place; he must not make it even more dangerous.