Republican candidates (L to R) former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (PA), U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Governor Mitt Romney (MA), U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (TX), former Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN), and businessman Herman Cain prepare for their debate June 13, 2011 at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Front-runner Mitt Romney was joined by Tim Pawlenty, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

NPR.org live-blogs the second Republican presidential debate of the 2012 election cycle.

St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire is hosting the event which is scheduled to start at 8 pm ET. CNN is carrying it.

Frontrunner Mitt Romney will be joined by Tim Pawlenty, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain and Rick Santorum. Expect many attacks on President Obama by all the participants and a few on Romney by his GOP competitors for the nomination. I previewed the debate earlier.

We'll get going a little bit before the appointed hour. Join us for what we hope will be a fairly lively evening.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Filed in:

• Presidential Race
• Election 2012
• Politics
• Home Page Top Stories
• News