Cain’s surge brings prime seating at Republican debate

Herman Cain's rise to the top tier of the GOP field will be on full view tonight as his poll status has powered him to the very center of the action. At previous debates he was on the outer wings near Jon M. Huntsman Jr., because of his standing in national polls, but at tonight's Washington Post/Bloomberg News debate he will be flanked by Mitt Romney and Rick Perry. Up until now, he has not been viewed as a threat by his rivals. But that could change tonight now that he has prime seating.

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