Did Romney Regain Frontrunner Status?

Texas Gov. Rick Perry may still lead in national polls, but after Monday night’s debate, is Mitt Romney once again the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination? Encouragingly for Romney, Perry ended up taking lots of flak from the right in Monday night’s debate: Michele Bachmann attacked him over his failed attempt to mandate HPV vaccines in Texas; Rick Santorum criticized his border-fence opposition; and Ron Paul accused him of raising taxes in Texas. Meanwhile, the Republican elite are consolidating behind Romney—Tim Pawlenty’s endorsement of Romney is a sign, The New York Times suggests, that some GOP leaders are seeking to slow down Perry.