Labor Day kicked off much of the action in the rapidly heating up Republican race and there is more to come in the next few weeks. There will be at least five Presidential debates held within six weeks and there may be a potential new entry into the fracas as well. Experts have said that the race is still fairly tight with the top contenders trading the top spots almost daily. There certainly is no limit on the explosive topics for the debates that are going to touch on topics that range  from job creation to the federal deficit and the floundering budget.

The American Principles Project Palmetto Freedom Forum was held in South Carolina, the first of the Southern states to vote in the primaries and was attended by some of the heavy hitters in the race including Michele Bachmann,  radio personality, Herman Cain, Former House Speaker, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, who had been considered one of the frontrunners in the race has not been as active as some of his competition, especially when it comes to reaching out to the Tea Party and other groups. Originally, Romney had declined an invitation to the event but has reconsidered and did plan to be there. That change in attitude may have come in response to the news that Rick Perry had passed him in recent polls.

In the coming week, Perry will face his first major test, his first national debate. That debate will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. Following that debate, there will be a CNN/Tea Party Express debate which will be held in Tampa , Florida. Another Florida based debate will be held later in the month. Debates in New Hampshire and then Las Vegas are also scheduled.

Perry, who has little real debate experience would be wise to take notes of Tim Pawlenty’s major flub in a previous debate. Pawlenty, who had been vocally criticizing Mitt Romney’s health care plan failed to talk about that issue during a debate, coming off as weak and timid.

Sarah Palin, who remains a mystery is expected to make a final decision on whether or not she is running for her party’s nomination y the end of the month which can change the complexion of the race dramatically. Palin has been touring the country in a painted tour bus and also released a bio-pic of herself but has so far been closed mouth about her future plans. Experts have suggested that if she does run, it will be a fight between her and Bachmann to see who is the last woman standing.

President Barack Obama had planned to present his jobs plan to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday but House Speaker John Boehner refused that offer saying that the security would be an issue. That speech will now be held on Thursday, discussing the grim unemployment report that was released late last week.