Romney counters attacks in GOP debate

LAS VEGAS — In the most explosive Republican presidential debate yet, candidates on Tuesday opened fire on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has clung to frontrunner status despite a string of surges from other hopefuls, most recently businessman Herman Cain.

At the start of the debate all eyes were on Cain, who in recent days rose to the top of the polls and even beat President Obama by two points in a new national poll. But after a round of robust attacks on Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan, attention quickly shifted to Romney.