The heated exchanges between Paul and Gingrich highlighted how much is a stake for the second-tier candidates.

It takes a toll on families, friends, physical health, mental health and for most second-tier candidates, it's a huge money sink.

First, the second-tier Republican candidates are not about to accept elimination from the contest quietly.

The window will be narrow for a second-tier candidate.

He outraised every second-tier candidate, and was fourth in fund-raising among the Republicans, behind the three frontrunners.

He interviewed one of these second-tier candidates, Rick Santorum, earlier this week.

Money becomes a problem for second-tier candidates, but they don't charge to attend debates.

Meanwhile, as some of the second-tier Republican candidates scramble for a foothold here, others have decided to focus their resources on Iowa.

It seems to "Today's Papers" that such men should get at least as much advance press attention as second-tier presidential candidates do.

True, conventional wisdom was right to dig the graves of most second-tier candidates.