GOP Candidates in SC Debate Have a Lot to Gain

Tonight's GOP debate in South Carolina features five possible presidential candidates, four of whom are known to less than half of Republicans nationwide. As such, one much-sought-after outcome of the debate could be an increase in the precious commodity of name identification among those who, in some fashion, manage to stand out.

Of the five potential candidates who are appearing on stage in Greenville, South Carolina, Texas Rep. Ron Paul is best known, with a 73% recognition level in Gallup's latest two-week tracking average (April 18-May 1). Paul, of course, has run for president before. His fame among Republicans may be enhanced by the fact that his son, Rand Paul, ran successfully for the Senate in Kentucky this last year. Like his father Ron, Rand is a doctor.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum are next in line in terms of name identification. They are each recognized by 46% of Republicans.

Business Executive Herman Cain, the only black Republican to express interest in running for president, has a name identification of 24%. Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has the lowest name identification of any Republican we track, at 17%.

Two of the missing potential candidates tonight certainly do not need the exposure -- at least as far as their name identification is concerned. Sarah Palin and Donald Trump are each known by more than 95% of Republicans nationwide. Not unrelated, both have starred or are starring in reality television shows.

Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee -- all missing in action for tonight's debate -- have name identification levels in the 82-87% range.

Of the five candidates on stage tonight in Greenville, the one who ignites the most excitement among his followers is Cain, whose Positive Intensity Score over the last two weeks is 20. He is tied with Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who also has a Positive Intensity Score of 20 (Bachmann's recognition level is 59%). Cain and Bachmann trail only Huckabee in terms of Positive Intensity; the former Arkansas governor has a Positive Intensity Score of 24. If Cain's appeal to those who know him now is apprarent to other Republicans watching tonight, he could come out a winner.

Of the remaining four candidates in tonight's debate, Paul, Pawlenty, and Santorum have Positive Intensity Scores of 16, 15, and 13, respectively -- putting them at an about average level. Johnson suffers from having not only the lowest recognition of any candidate we track, but also the lowest Positive Intensity Score, at 6%. Obviously Johnson needs to gain on all fronts in the coming weeks if he expects to be able to challenge his fellow Republicans for his party's nomination.