5 Things to Look for in Tonight's GOP Debate in Rochester

1. Mitt Romney will give a shoutout to his home state.

Romney was born in Detroit and is sure to mention it -- probably multiple times -- throughout the duration of the debate. Who wants to bet he'll utter this exact phrase? "It feels great to be back in Michigan!"

He'll also try to play up his loyalty to the state with statements like the one he wrote in an op-ed for CNBC. “In Detroit, the city of my birth, far higher joblessness has brought a great city to the edge of ruin,” Romney wrote Tuesday. “There will be no one on that stage this week more pained by Michigan’s struggles than I am.”

2. Jobs, jobs and more jobs.

It's no secret why Michigan was chosen to host one of many Republican debates being held this year. With unemployment at 11.1 percent in our state, it's obvious what the candidates will be focusing on -- the , and, more specifically, jobs. Look for andecdotes from local people hit hard in this economy and questions about how the candidates would increase the number of jobs in Detroit and across the country.

3. Herman Cain will be put on the hot seat about sexual harassment charges.

In a perfect world, political debates would focus just on the political issues. But with all the recent media buzz about Herman Cain's sexual harrassment suit, the topic is expected to come up at least once -- whether brought up by the moderator or fellow candidates.

4. Mitt Romney will get criticized for opposing the auto bailouts.

Romney might try to empathize with his home state tonight, but Michigan has not been as friendly to him in recent weeks. Yesterday, the Democratic National Committee released a video called "Hit the Road Mitt," which highlights a November 2008 op-ed  that Romney wrote in the New York Times called “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.” Romney is sure to be questioned about why he was against the auto industry bailouts and whether he still stands by that position.

5. Detroit will be used to represent America's major manufacturing centers and the question will be asked -- how do we revive these "decaying" cities?

As detailed in recent media reports, Detroit could run out of money as early as February. Expect debate questions centered around other cash-strapped cities and what the candidates plan to do help pull them out of economic crisis.

More coverage from the GOP Debate at Oakland University