Hanover , New Hampshire ( CNN ) -- Herman Cain , the latest Republican presidential candidate to surge in the polls , found himself in the hot seat Tuesday night at a debate in New Hampshire centered on economic matters . The linchpin of Cain 's campaign , his cleverly titled 9-9-9 plan to restructure the U.S. Tax Code , came under harsh scrutiny as other Republicans sought to knock the former Godfather 's Pizza CEO off his pedestal . The Cain plan would implement a 9 % corporate income tax rate , a 9 % income tax rate and a 9 % national sales tax . His opponents called the plan unrealistic and said it stands zero chance of passing on Capitol Hill . `` I think it 's a catchy phrase , in fact , I thought it was the price of a pizza when I first heard it , '' former Utah Gov . Jon Huntsman joked . `` We need something that 's doable , doable , doable . '' Two candidates competing with Cain for conservative voters in the leadoff caucus state of Iowa , former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota , sharply questioned Cain 's economic credentials . Santorum asked audience members at Dartmouth College to raise their hands if they support a new sales tax . No one in the crowd appeared to do so . `` There you go , Herman . That 's how many votes you 'll get in New Hampshire . '' He added , `` Can we trust you with your lack of experience that you wo n't continually give Washington the ability to take freedom away from freedom-loving people ? '' Bachmann said the plan would do little to create jobs and would simply offer the government a new way to collect tax revenue . `` When you take the 9-9- ( 9 ) plan and you turn it upside won , the devil is in the details , '' Bachmann said , a reference to 666 , a symbol commonly associated with Satan . Cain defended his plan as a fresh solution . `` Therein lies the difference between me , the nonpolitician , and all of the politicians , '' he said . `` They want to pass what they think they can get passed rather than what we need , which is a bold solution . '' Rep. Ron Paul of Texas also attacked Cain for naming former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan as the kind of person he would appoint to the Fed if elected . `` Alan Greenspan was a disaster , '' Paul said , saying that Greenspan manipulated American currency and helped usher in the current economic crisis . Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich attacked the current Federal Reserve chairman , Ben Bernanke , and said the central banking system should be subject to greater oversight . `` Bernanke has in secret spent hundred of billions of dollars bailing out one group and not bailing out another group , '' Gingrich said . `` It is corrupt and wrong for one man to have that secret power . '' Eight candidates participated in the economy-themed debate at Dartmouth College , sponsored by Bloomberg Television and The Washington Post . While some candidates trained their sights on Cain , others tried to sully former Massachusetts Gov . Mitt Romney , who has solidified his lead in national polls and in New Hampshire , a state central to his nomination strategy . But as in previous debates , Romney , a tested campaigner , parried several attacks and kept the focus on jobs and the economy . Share your view on the debate . In one portion of the debate , moderators allowed the candidates to ask questions of one another . Texas Gov . Rick Perry pressed Romney on his health care overhaul in Massachusetts , which he compared to Obama 's national plan . Romney turned the question around on Perry . `` We have less than 1 % of our kids that are uninsured , '' Romney said . `` You have a million kids uninsured in Texas . A million kids . Under President Bush , the percentage uninsured went down . Under your leadership , it 's gone up . '' Perry , who has been criticized by Romney for not outlining a detailed economic plan , said he would begin rolling out a platform in the coming days , beginning with a speech this week on boosting domestic energy production . `` It 's time for another American declaration of independence , '' Perry said . `` It 's time for energy independence . ''
NEW : Rick Perry says Mitt Romney 's health plan in Texas mirrors Obama 's . NEW : Romney turns attack on Mitt Romney 's , citing number of uninsured in Massachusetts . Candidates pounce on Perry one -9-9 plan for eradicating tax code . Cain defends plan as `` bold solution ''