BYRON YORK OF NRO:
In the end, they overshadowed some other noteworthy aspects of the debate. The first was the solid performance of Fred Thompson. He was sharp and focused, making his own points effectively as well as sometimes picking apart his opponents’ positions. But Thompson, at one percent in the new poll, wasn’t trying to win over New Hampshire voters. He’s only in New Hampshire because that is where the national press is, and that is where back-to-back Republican debates are being held this weekend.
“Forget about New Hampshire,” Thompson aide Karen Hanretty said after the debate. “We’ll get two or three percent in New Hampshire. We have no illusions about that. And a debate, I don’t think, is going to change that.” Indeed, Thompson has no plans to campaign in New Hampshire while he is here, and on Monday, before the voting in New Hampshire, he will head to South Carolina, where he will make the stand that will either make or break his candidacy.
BTTT!