Thompson Wins

Finally, Fred Thompson delivers a strong performance, although I fear it's too little, too late. He was funny and showed a real ability to go after Mike Huckabee and others without seeming ugly or negative.

Mitt Romney had a good debate, as well. His responses about the economy and the Republican coalition were strong, as was the thrust at Ron Paul "reading from Ahmadinejad's press release." Nicely done.

John McCain made no campaign-threatening mistakes, although Rudy was right to call him on his inaccurate claim that he was the only one on-stage who had supported the surge, and the contrast between his supposed "straight talk" about surrendering Michigan jobs and Romney's determination and optimism about keeping them was telling. McCain can try to talk up the economy, but the fact is that he just doesn't come across as a sunshiny guy. And one more thing -- too bad, when he gets off on his spending cut credentials that no one asks him about other big spending plans he might have, implied in his adherence to the cause of global warming. In his post-debate interview, he denied that he had changed anything in his approach to illegal immigration -- although his enthusiasm for border security first is a remarkable volte-face, and he seems completely ignorant of the impact of his support for his "z visa" brainchild. Clueless . . .

Rudy was fine, but there were few standout moments.

Mike Huckabee stood up pretty well to many of the attacks against him. His response to the inquiry about wives submitting to their husbands was a strong one, and will endear him to evangelicals, but the facts posed in the questions itself was probably enough to turn off most others. Along with McCain, he's the guy who must most hate any discussion of illegal immigration. And he totally muffed the Chris Wallace question about taxes. Assuring listeners that he spent the taxes he raised well is hardly the way to endear oneself to Republican voters.

Ron Paul? Gotta love him. He's the Republican Dennis Kucinich.