Tonight will mark the first Republican debate with only five candidates (excluding that farce where FOX News excluded Ron Paul) on an increasingly shrinking stage.
Mike Huckabee went jogging this morning to prepare for the debate, while John McCain was holding his patented town halls. Ron Paul unveiled an economic stimulus plan, Mitt Romney launched a new ad, and Rudy Giuliani announced he is staying in the race regardless of the outcome of Florida's primary next week.
On the hot seat tonight is likely to be McCain. Because of a surprisingly benign campaign season where McCain's rivals have (mostly) avoided running negative campaign ads against him, McCain enters as the front runner and is beginning to look like the presumptive nominee. But expect the pot shots at Romney to continue.
This debate also includes a format that we haven't seen in any previous debates: the candidates will each have the opportunity to pose a question to one of their rivals. A sure fire recipe for fireworks.
In 2006, during the Republican U.S. Senate primary in Tennessee, a similar format was used at one of the debates. That race was very similar to the current Presidential race.
The campaign season began more than two years before the primary, included more debates than one could count, drew the attention of the national media, and included intense acrimony between the candidates. There was a multi-millionaire self financing his campaign who had flip-flopped on abortion, there was a Christian and social conservative who won the hearts if not the minds of the voters, and a candidate who had recently been defeated in the last Gubernatorial election and had quite an annoying voice.
The debate trotted along like normal; until the part where the candidates could ask questions of one another (summary via Blogging for Bryant):
Ed Bryant question to Van Hilleary: In 2002, you ran for governor and I endorsed you. Did Corker help you win?
Hilleary: After the primary, he did not endorse me or Alexander. He held a fundraiser for Phil Bredeson, which helped make it okay for Republicans to support him. He has also voted in Democratic primaries and given money to Democrats.
Bob Corker response: I gave a maximum contribution to Hilleary. I have also invited Bush and Phil Gramm to my house. No one outside of a campaign questions my credentials.
*Moderator refuses to let Bryant ask question of Corker*
Hilleary question to Corker: You have a record of being pro-choice and raising taxes. Now you say you are pro-life. How are you going to beat Harold?
Corker: 1994 was 12 years ago. I have said I was wrong. I have been solidly life for seven or eight years. Lots of pro-life people support me.
Hilleary question to Bryant: What about Bob Corker's record offends you the most?
Bryant: This is a tough race. Neither one of my opponents offend me, but we disagree on policy issues. At election time, all politicians become conservatives, but he has raised taxes. He has been pro-choice, and he has hired illegal immigrants.
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