The Birth of a Candidate: Nine Months of GOP Debates

By Sarah Parnass February 22, 2012

(Image Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The birth of a GOP nominee is officially overdue. After nine months of debates, the GOP candidates are still in gestation. In case you haven't followed Romney, Santorum, Gingrich and Paul on every step of this journey - or maybe just can't remember when exactly Rick Perry forgot his plan to streamline government or the audience shouted out a shocking suggestion for Americans without insurance - here's a debate-by-debate rundown of the most important moments so far.

Tonight chalks up one more debate, bringing the tally of total tete-a-tetes to 21. Here's a reminder of what we've seen over the past nine months, and a look at where the candidates will face off next.

2011

May 5: South Carolina	No Fireworks at First Republican Primary Debate VIDEO: Did House Speaker John Boehner Watch South Carolina GOP Debate?
June 13: New Hampshire	GOP Debate: What to Watch for in New Hampshire Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney Take On Obama at Republican Debate
Aug. 11: Iowa	No More Minnesota Nice: Bachmann vs. Pawlenty in Ames Debate Who Came Out on Top in GOP Presidential Debate?
Sept. 7: California	No More Mr. Nice Guys: Rick Perry, Mitt Romney Square Off at GOP Debate Dick Cheney Tells Republican Presidential Candidates to Watch Their Mouths
Sept. 12: Florida	Michele Bachmann Wins Tea Party Debate Health Care Advocate: Cheering Death of Unemployed 'Shocking' VIDEO: Ron Paul Booed by Debate Audience on 9/11, Military Issues
Sept. 22: Florida	Fact Check: Perry Met Dying Woman After Vaccine Order Debate Crowd Booed Gay Soldier
Oct. 11: New Hampshire	Heckler Stands Up for Gay Soldier Booed at Last Debate Dartmouth Debate Takeaways
Oct. 18: Las Vegas	GOP Candidates Butt Heads on Immigration, Border Security Cain's 9-9-9 Plan Gets Grilled at GOP Debate
Nov. 9: Michigan	GOP Debate: There's More to a Candidate's Tie Than Meets the Eye Rick Perry's Debate Lapse: 'Oops' - Can't Remember Department of Energy
Nov. 12: South Carolina	GOP Candidates Blast CBS News for 'Disgraceful' Bias at South Carolina Debate GOP Field Targets Obama in Foreign Policy Debate
Nov. 22: Washington, D.C.	Winners and Losers at GOP National Security Debate Immigration, Racial Profiling, Patriot Act Divide Republicans At GOP Debate
Dec. 10: Iowa	Republican Candidates Clash in Pivotal Iowa Debate Factchecking the Debate in Iowa Oh No They Didn't: Candidates Slams from the Iowa Debate
Dec. 15: Iowa	Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney Stay Above the Fray at Final Debate Before Iowa Caucus

2012

Jan. 7: New Hampshire	6.25 Million Americans Watched the ABC News Republican Debate in New Hampshire Romney Unruffled in GOP Debate as Rivals Attack Each Other VIDEO: New Hampshire GOP Debate Highlights
Jan. 8: New Hampshire	Mitt Romney Unloads First Attacks on Rick Santorum Before N.H. Primary
Jan. 16: South Carolina	Mitt Romney Stumbles, Newt Gingrich Shines
Jan. 19: South Carolina	Newt Gingrich Turns Ex-Wife's Interview Into Attack on Media VIDEO: South Carolina in 60 Seconds
Jan. 23: Florida	Mitt Romney Blasts Newt Gingrich as 'Influence Peddler'
Jan. 26: Florida	McCain Jokes Debate Moderators are "Communists" Romney Calls Gingirch 'Goldilocks' Over Debate Audience Complaints

To Come …

Tonight's debate in Arizona March 1: Georgia March 5: California March 19: Oregon