(Image Source: New York Times)

BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS

GOP candidates gather in New Hampshire tonight to hash out their views on 2012’s hottest topics and win voters’ favor, but the media’s buzzing -- the people have already spoken.

“Two new polls out this morning putting Mitt Romney way ahead of the pack.” (Video Source: MSNBC)

The candidates have yet to take the stage, but CNN says at this point, the real winner of next Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary is whoever places second.

“Look at these numbers right here. It shows that Mitt Romney is in the commanding lead right now. But it’s really not about the race for first place, it’s the race for second and third place.”

Politico’s Maggie Haberman agrees -- and adds Romney’s two runners-up could be in a different position than they were last week in Iowa.

“Ron Paul is so far unchallenged in his second-place showing in the Granite State … Santorum is running third place in New Hampshire, and given Romney's lock on first place, the race is really for the second slot.”

NBC’s Chuck Todd explains how a second place finish might be worth a fight for Santorum.

“There is a battle for second place, and a Rick Santorum if he could emulate the Pat Buchanan showing of 1996 and get 25 percent, he could actually get some momentum going into South Carolina.”

And if Romney does pull off the win, what does it mean for his future? New York Daily News’ Aliyah Shahid writes...

“New Hampshire will be a critical tell, too. No modern presidential candidate has won both Iowa and New Hampshire and failed to capture the nomination.”

But Fox and Friends’ Alisyn Camerota says- not so fast.

“The polls, though you can never completely trust polls, they do seem to show Romney with a great lead. But anything could be turned around tonight by the debate.”

The Washington Post’s Carter Eskew agrees it’s too soon to call. He suggests looking to the past to remember how quickly results can flip.

“New Hampshire may be the scariest primary of the bunch for campaign operatives … Sandwiched between Iowa and South Carolina, and falling just after the holidays … New Hampshire sneaks up on you. … Four years ago, Obama was a lock as late as Sunday night. I attended a dinner that night with one of the leaders of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and he all but conceded. On Tuesday, his candidate won.”

And although New Hampshire voters still have a few days before they go to the polls, CNN’s Paul Steinhouser is already looking ahead.

“South Carolina, their primary comes just 11 days after New Hampshire, and check out this. Where does the race stand in South Carolina? Our poll, CNN/Time/ORC, in South Carolina, we made some news yesterday when we put ours out, because look who’s on top in South Carolina now. Mitt Romney. That was not the case a month ago.”

The South Carolina primary is scheduled for January 21.