Previewing GOP debate

Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:55 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
First Read will be liveblogging the South Carolina GOP debate tonight. Some things to look for: The Columbia State, the state's most influential paper, front-paged a look into the Republican race as sights have shifted here. There were four Republicans in the photo on the cover of the paper: Huckabee, Thompson, Romney and McCain.

Today, a new poll: a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll showed McCain in the lead with 25%, fresh off his New Hampshire win, over Huckabee with 18%, Romney 17% and then Thompson, who is banking his campaign on the Palmetto State at just 9%. Giuliani and Paul followed.

Top issue: immigration. This conservative state with a significant bloc of evangelical voters could help Huckabee. But the top issue here is immigration. Could Huckabee's immigration policy hurt him? Look for Romney to play up his hardline. McCain's numbers could sink if they get into questions of "amnesty." And Thompson could help himself on the issue, but he's been out of the limelight? Is it too late? Or does he springboard with a strong appearance here?

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Comments

Dr Ron Paul hit the home runs this debate.
The crowd loved him!, did you hear the applause?
Peace, Prosperity, Liberty!
Thanks for an excellent debate! and for the 'star' of the show Dr. Ron Paul! :)

dave ferry (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:05 PM)

Ron Paul won hands down.

Harpakhrad11 (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:55 PM)

Wow. Dr. Paul actually had time to speak. That's a shock, especially considering it was Fox.

Chris (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:55 PM)

Ron Paul won hands down.

Harpakhrad11, boston, Mass (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:56 PM)

Once again Ron Paul made the rest of the field look like nothing but globalist shills.

Ron Paul is a return to sane leadership.

WL , Washington DC (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:58 PM)

Why does McCain think that coming from the state with the worst broken border give him the edge of border control strategy?

Isn't that like really dumb?

Jane Doe, Seattle, Wash (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:59 PM)

The American people want the truth and Ron Paul gives it too them Great win for Ron Paul in my opinion and I am a Democrat

kpezzy, pleasanton, calif (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:03 PM)

Huckabee bragged that no bridges fell down while he was governor, so I'd like to congratulate Gov. Huckabee for his visionary leadership on that.

Guy sleeping under a bridge, Arkansas (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:05 PM)

I'm really proud of Ron Paul. His is a master statesman and represents how the American people feel. Those other guys are acting like puppets up there. Who is advising those guys what to say?

Jeff, Nashville, Tenn. (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:08 PM)

Anyone catch Mccain say "its not about the soldiers, its about the presence" then quickly backtracked and said "i mean, its about the soldiers, not the presence." Caught in a boldfaced lie you sick NWO!

Did anyone hear Huckabee say he wanted to have highways accessible to people...and... and kids too. I guess they drive pretty young there huh? Haha! Dumb!

Ron Paul! The champion of the Constitution!

Dave Andrews, Glendora, CA (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:13 PM)

I think that this debate was far superior to all the rest so far. I was leaning toward Mike Huckabee. He seemed to be a man of quality, but after seeing the obvious attempt to humiliate and belittle Ron Paul by responses from him and the other candidates, as well as Fox News itself just by the questions asked to each of the candidates, I am beginning to believe you all don't want Paul to be taken seriously. After hearing Ron Paul talk on the issues, when he was finally given a chance to participate in the debate, He has brought up some very serious answers as to why we are in the shape we are. I thought he was speaking from the heart, you could tell he was passionate by the way he was talking. The other candidates were just like actors or something. We can't keep on going in the direction we are going. I found no winners tonight, but I am going to take a more serious look at that man Ron Paul.

Mike Houser, Columbus, Ks (Sent Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:14 PM)

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