There are a lot of possible story lines tonight as seven Republican hopefuls gather just outside Manchester, New Hampshire for the first big debate of the 2012 race for the GOP nomination for President.

The debate, sponsored by CNN and Manchester TV station WMUR, will be held at St. Anselm's College, just outside of Manchester. It's a familiar stop for those who have covered Presidential politics here in the Granite State.

Will it bring more than just shadowboxing? It obviously is early, but you can really feel the pace beginning to quicken in this GOP race, with just six months until the New Hampshire Primary.

Most of the major GOP candidates weren't here on Sunday, as only Tim Pawlenty and Herman Cain stopped by the Hillsborough County GOP picnic on a cool and sometimes wet late spring day in the Granite State.

Only Pawlenty had another event during the day, as I caught up with him later in the afternoon in Derry, which is a short ride to the south of Manchester.

The crowd inside the Halligan Tavern was standing room only, and seemed to be there to truly show their support for Pawlenty, rather than just to see the former Governor of Minnesota.

In other words, it didn't feel like the New Hampshire Primary was next January. It felt like it was next week.

"I'm running for President of the United States because I love this country and I've got the record of results to get this country back on track," Pawlenty said to lusty cheers from the patrons, some of whom were quaffing down full pints of beer as well.

Earlier in the day, Pawlenty used the Sunday talk shows to take a shot at frontrunner Mitt Romney, who will be participating in his first 2012 GOP debate tonight, as Pawlenty jabbed at Romney over the health reform law that he approved while Governor of Massachusetts.

“President Obama said that he designed Obamacare after Romneycare and basically made it Obamneycare," Pawlenty said on Fox News Sunday.

It was an interesting jab because Pawlenty has said several times that he does not want to focus his attacks on other Republicans - but face it - Romney is the frontrunner right now on the GOP side.

And we'll see if that factors in tonight with the other GOP debate invitees.

Along with Pawleny, Romney and Cain, this debate also includes Rep. Ron Paul, Rep. Michele Bachman, former Sen. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, who will try to use this debate to make the case that his Presidential bid is not on life support.

The debate begins at 8pm EDT tonight. We'll have full coverage.