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Follow all the cut and thrust from tonight’s Republican presidential candidates debate in Iowa – live 8.35pm: If you are bored waiting until the debate starts, here’s the liveblog of the last debate back in June . It was a scream. Seriously, just screaming, basically. On second thoughts, don’t tead it. I want to use the same jokes. I thought at the time that Tim Pawlenty did well but Serious People said he didn’t because he failed to rough up Mitt Romney when it mattered and now everyone thinks he’s a wimp. 8.30pm: For British viewers – assuming the government hasn’t cut off the internet to end the rioting yet – Fox News appears to be live-streaming video of the debate right here . Preamble: Welcome to tonight’s Republican presidential candidates debate in Iowa – or, if you prefer, the competition to decide who will get beaten by Rick Perry for the 2012 Republican nomination. On stage at Iowa University in Ames tonight are the eight people battling for the nomination. But not on stage and hanging over proceedings like that guy in No Country For Old Men is Perry, the governor of Texas. It now appears certain that Perry will announce that he’s a candidate as of Saturday in Charleston. And that changes everything, since Perry is a bigger presence than any of the earthlings at tonight’s debate. So it kind of makes you wonder what the point of this is. Except that for the eight on stage, it’s their last chance to make an impression before Perry enters the face. They should, therefore, go at it like rats in a sacks. (And by that I mean fighting, not having sex.) Apart from Perry there is another absent figure haunting this debate like Banquo’s ghost – St Sarah of Wasila, the patron saint of pipelines. The former governor of Alaska was said to be running for the nomination. But then during a bus trip across America in June she disappeared and has not been seen since. Palin’s supporters have been out in force and many claim that she will appear among them in Iowa , for so it has been prophesised on Palin’s Facebook page. So who is actually on stage tonight? Here’s a quick run-down: Mitt Romney: currently the Front-Runner In Name Only (FRINO), the former Massachusetts governor leads the polls. But if you’ve got a poll, throw it away, it’s worthless. After Saturday the polls will just say: “Rick Perry. The end.” Michele Bachmann: Bachmann was said to be the winner of the last debate , which was roughly a million years ago in June, so no-one cares. Currently on the cover of Newsweek looking a bit mad. Jon Huntsman: A first appearance for the former governor of Utah, who graciously left his governor’s mansion to serve his country as the US ambassador to China. Naturally he’s as popular as anthrax. Newt Gingrich: Less popular than anthrax. Ron Paul: Iconic, veteran congressman, principled, intelligent. He has no chance. Quite the libertarian, except for abortion and gays. Then he’s not. Seriously, he would win the nomination but for a secret alliance of the Mainstream Media, Wall Street and Republican voters who insist on not voting for him in large numbers. Rick Santorum: Is he still running? I forget. Herman Cain: Pizza guy. Meh. Gary Johnson: According to NPR: “the former New Mexico governor will be a curiosity since most people still don’t know who he is”. I know he was governor of Mexico. Sorry, New Mexico. (Actually, he’d have more chance of becoming president of Mexico. Maybe he should try?) In fact Johnson is smart, sensible, was a very good governor and seems like a nice guy. Obviously: zero chance. Tim Pawlenty: Still running. May as well not bother. Seriously, have you seen his latyest poll ratings? He’s now less well-known than when he started. That’s quite an achievement: negative publicity. Anyway it all kicks off at 8pm in Iowa, which is 9pm ET, or 2am BST. Republican presidential nomination 2012 Iowa Michele Bachmann Mitt Romney Rick Perry US elections 2012 Jon Huntsman Republicans Ron Paul Sarah Palin Newt Gingrich Fox News US politics United States Richard Adams guardian.co.uk