GOP presidential field begins to narrow

The Republican presidential race was scrambled over the weekend when businessman Herman Cain, a one-time front-runner, suspended his campaign, but the field is likely to remain set at seven until voting in the 2012 contest begins a month from now.

At least three candidates — Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum — are each counting on a miraculous surge of support in the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses to keep their campaigns alive. But the caucuses have ended more campaigns than they’ve launched.