GOP Hopefuls Bash Each Other With Eye On Florida Vote

Florida was the setting for another contentious Republican presidential debate Monday, the second in two weeks.

It kicks off what Miami Herald politics reporter Marc Caputo calls "Republican-palooza month in Florida," culminating in a Republican Party of Florida straw poll at the end of September.

Hopefuls Rick Perry and Mitt Romney sparred over whether Social Security is an unconstitutional Ponzi scheme, while the other six candidates sought to call attention to their campaigns.

Perry also came under attack from Michele Bachmann, who criticized his executive order mandating that young girls be vaccinated for the human papillomavirus.

Caputo writes that the debate proved that Perry "is the front-runner, he can take his share of shots, and he can give them as well. Left uncertain was how Perry or any of the candidates will fare in a match-up against President Barack Obama."