The Republican presidential candidates have participated in 13 debates since last May, with each event seeming to have a different frontrunner. As the Iowa Caucus leads us into the primary season, here are some highlights from the verbal jousts:

Aug. 11: Tim Pawlenty throws his back out after 90 minutes of leaning from his podium to try to get his face on TV

Tim Pawlenty throws his back out after 90 minutes of leaning from his podium to try to get his face on TV Sept. 7: Mitt Romney objects to Jon Huntsman repeatedly referring to himself as the "good Mormon"

Mitt Romney objects to Jon Huntsman repeatedly referring to himself as the "good Mormon" Sept. 12: Rick Perry accidentally winks at a sound guy

Rick Perry accidentally winks at a sound guy Sept. 22: A fumbling, mortified Mitt Romney finds himself at a loss when debate moderator Bret Baier asks the candidates one-by-one to pull out and describe their concealed firearms to the audience

A fumbling, mortified Mitt Romney finds himself at a loss when debate moderator Bret Baier asks the candidates one-by-one to pull out and describe their concealed firearms to the audience Nov. 12: An aide to Rick Perry is positioned near the fire alarm should the governor again not be prepared to answer a question

An aide to Rick Perry is positioned near the fire alarm should the governor again not be prepared to answer a question Dec. 10: Mitt Romney comes off as out-of-touch with the common man after challenging Rick Perry to a bet of $10,000, a velvet satchel of loose gemstones, and a wastebasket made out of an albino elephant's foot

Mitt Romney comes off as out-of-touch with the common man after challenging Rick Perry to a bet of $10,000, a velvet satchel of loose gemstones, and a wastebasket made out of an albino elephant's foot Dec. 15: Feeling secure with his increasing lead in the polls, Newt Gingrich attends the debate wearing only his boxers

Feeling secure with his increasing lead in the polls, Newt Gingrich attends the debate wearing only his boxers Dec. 15: In spite of another strong debate performance, Ron Paul plunges in the polls as voters grow bored and tired of the congressman having constantly stuck by his principles and policy positions throughout the entire campaign