(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS AND CHRISTINA HARTMAN

A whopping twenty debates under the GOP presidential candidates’ belts so far -- but it ain’t over til it’s over. Just try telling that to the journalists covering them.

DAN RATHER: “When you have one after another, one within 12 hours of another, I do think debate fatigue sets in.”

CHUCK TODD: “All we do with this debate process is enable the process to encourage more celebrity politicians.”

And there are four more scheduled through the end of this month alone! The Houston Chronicle is calling it the “Goldilocks question,” asking how many debates is just right?

“Has it been too many... as a lot of folks contend? Or has it been just about right, as others assert? (To our knowledge, no one has suggested there have been too few of the rhetorical duels!)”

This debate about debates really gained momentum in New Hampshire when GOP candidates took to the stage for back to back debates-- less than 12 hours apart. The Washington Post’s EJ Dionne suggests -- as have other political observers -- the back-to-back debates are turning the race for the nomination into a reality show.
 

“So far, the impact of this year’s Republican contest has been more negative than positive for the GOP. Most of the news from the race before the voting highlighted the shortcomings of the various contenders: Gingrich’s jewelry-buying habits, Rick Perry’s debate meltdowns, Herman Cain’s personal troubles.”
 

Then again, by National Journal’s count -- there really haven’t been significantly more debates this election cycle compared to 2008. Instead, the Journal’s Beth Reinhard suggests...

“The perception that the 2012 GOP primary has been overloaded with debates may stem from their impact more than their quantity. Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich have all seen their poll numbers soar after strong performances, while Tim Pawlenty and Rick Perry endured the opposite.”

And finally former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell tells MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan-- if anything should change -- it’s the content of the debates.

RENDELL: “I would limit them to topics. So one debate is on foreign affairs, that’s it. (FLASH) I would have a format where the candidates ask each other questions.”

The next debate is Monday night in Florida.