Washington (CNN) -- In no particular order, here are four things you should watch in this week's desert debate: Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich.
The final four have not shared a stage in almost a month: Not since Romney won Florida, Nevada and Maine. Not since Santorum triumphed in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado. Not since Paul won -- well, Paul won nowhere, though he told me on CNN's "State of the Union," "It all depends on how you measure winning. ... The bottom line is who is going to get the delegates ... and we think we're doing pretty good."
Also not winning anywhere since the last debate is Gingrich, who retains his down-but-never-out storyline. The former House speaker promised recently, "I have been front-runner twice. I suspect I'll be the front-runner again in a few weeks."
It is at least arguable that since the last debate on January 26, Gingrich has faded and Paul has hit a ceiling. Still, all four Republican presidential hopefuls have jointly suffered from an increasing Republican anxiety about the field.
My Ron Paul sticker is proudly displayed!
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