(CNN) -- With Rick Perry instantly assuming the top spot among candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, it is no surprise that nearly every other man and woman on stage with him at last night's debate took aim. Citing his executive order mandating inoculations against a sexually transmitted disease that can lead to cervical cancer, Michele Bachmann expressed outrage that Perry, she said, had "forced" "government injections" of 12-year-old girls. Jon Huntsman archly claimed that Perry's skepticism about a border fence was nothing short of "treasonous." Ron Paul accused Perry, his fellow Texan, of raising his taxes, increasing the state's debt, and expanding the state government's workforce.
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William Howell says front-runner Rick Perry was target for GOP candidates at debate
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He says Mitt Romney turned focus to Social Security and Perry's Ponzi scheme comment
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He says Perry now says he'd keep Social Security safe, then talks about moving it to states
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Howell: Perry may be favored, but in general election Social Security stance would hurt him
Rick Perry
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Rick Perry
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The most extended critique of @placeholder, though, came right out of the gate, from Mitt Romney.
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GOP
Romney accused Perry of trying to scare senior citizens and ruin the @placeholder by calling Social Security unconstitutional, a Ponzi scheme and a failure.
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Of all the jabs at @placeholder last night, these mattered most.
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@placeholder stands out as the most important topic generating substantive disagreement among the top Republican contenders.
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When asked later about @placeholder, Perry went out of his way to offer assurances that the benefits for current and near retirees would remain intact -- "slam dunk, guaranteed," as he put it.
Mitt Romney
@placeholder, by contrast, has proposed a variety of measures that in his view will shore up Social Security without either increasing taxes or reducing the federal government's involvement.
Mitt Romney
Though he didn't lay them out Monday night, the components of @placeholder's plan include the raising of the retirement age, the creation of personal retirement investment accounts for younger workers, and the indexing of benefits to prices rather than wages, as is currently done.
Mitt Romney
On the other hand, if @placeholder can survive a Republican primary season in which the median voter is vastly more conservative than in the general election, then the terms of next year's debate about Social Security will be vastly more conventional -- to the great relief of moderates and frustration of the tea party sponsors of last night's debate.