The Las Vegas GOP Debate was a slapfest that would make Carson Kressley proud. During the Las Vegas debate, the 2012 Republican presidential candidates included Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. Fellow GOP candidates Gary Johnson and Jon Huntsman were not present at the debate, focusing their campaign efforts elsewhere. The best candidates of the debate were Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.