Last night, Fox News hosted the first Republican presidential debate ahead of the GOP primary season for the 2012 general election.

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, conservative radio talk show host Herman Cain, former Sen. Rick Santorum, Congressman Ron Paul and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty all took part in the debate which was held at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina.

Early perceived front-runners Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump and Mike Huckabee were all noticeably absent. Even Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann decided not to show.

Though the debate covered a wide-range of issues and mostly centered on the economy, there were a few questions directed to participants on gay issues.

Paul fielded a question on his stance for marriage equality after a moderator read a 2007 quote from the congressman that implied he was in favor of same-sex marriage.

“I think the government should just be out of it,” Paul said of marriage. “We shouldn't have this argument, who's married, who isn't married. I have my standards, but I shouldn't have to impose my standards on others. Others have their standards and they have no right to impose their marriage standards on me. And I just don't like it, but if we want to have something to say about marriage, it should be at the state level.”

His answer was met with applause from some of the South Carolina voters in attendance.

See his response below:

Cain, largely seen as the winner of last night's debate, said that the Obama administration's decision to no longer defend of the Defense of Marriage Act in the ongoing legal battles over the law's constitutionality went against the presidential oath of office. Cain said, “For the President to give direction to the Justice Department when in his oath of office he says he is supposed to protect and uphold the laws of the United States of America, to me, that is asking the Justice Department to not uphold the law.”

Cain is from Atlanta and hosts a talk radio show "The Herman Cain Show" on WSB750 and 95.5 FM.

Sample voters in a post-debate session overwhelmingly said that Cain won the debate. Many in the polling group expressed disappointment that some possible candidates decided to sit out the event.

Top photo: GOP presidential hopefuls (via youTube)