how many of the sophomoric debates must there be - they're nothing but dog and pony shows. I've never seen so many debates - they look and act like a bunch of kindergartners (apologies to kindergartners) like puppets. And do you really think you get much more than canned rhetoric out of them?
This debate will have a very different format from the other debates. First, it is three hours long, instead of the typical 1.5 hour long debates. This will provide more time for substantive answers. Second, many of the questions have been submitted by influential conservative leaders like Phyllis Schlaffly who are likely to eventually endorse a candidate. Third, after the debate there will be a straw poll taken of representives selected by these influential social conservative leaders. This straw poll will give a very good idea about which candidate has the support of the scoial conservatives.
All in all, Thompson made a huge mistake in choosing to snub religious conservatives - between this and his comments about his lack of church attendance and his dismissive responce to questions about the Terry Schievo case he is rapidly showing himself to be no friend of social conservatives.