GOP N.H. FORUM SHARPENS DIFFERENCES

GOP Presidential candidates gathered for a Fox News forum Sunday evening in Manchester, New Hampshire, ahead of Tuesday's primary. The same gentlemen also debated Saturday evening, but that was up against the NFL playoffs, and no one, including me, was watching. Sunday's format, which had the candidates seated literally shoulder to shoulder, was probably the best of the campaign so far. The candidates discussed a wide range of topics including the war, taxes and spending, immigration, social security, and negative campaign ads. Participants had ample time to answer questions and respond to barbs when necessary. For analytical conservatives, the forum once again clearly showed Fred Thompson to be the only candidate running worthy of support. Romney, McCain, Rudy, and Huckabee all demonstrated philosophical flaws that simply eliminate them from contention. The GOP nominating race is wide open, and any of these five men could get the nod. This campaign may not produce a nominee until the convention, perhaps even resulting in a dramatic floor fight. If Republican voters wish to continue as the conservative party and win in November, Fred must be their choice. To make my point, a review of each candidate overall may prove more instructive than detailing issue to issue.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Guliani is attempting to execute a primary strategy that has never worked for anyone. His showing in Iowa was statistically insignificant, and results in New Hampshire are not likely to be any better. He's hoping he can hang on by the fingernails until Florida and the bluer states more likely to support his liberal social policies. The problem is that he may be an afterthought by then. Rudy's one redeeming policy position on the war cannot diminish the fact that he is not a true conservative overall. The main rationale for his candidacy is his performance as NYC Mayor, a scandalous and debatable record at best. His record on illegal immigration is highly suspect, and his recent problems explaining the security provided to his then girlfriend on the public dime are only the tips of icebergs the Dems would pounce on immediately with great relish. Rudy's answers Sunday night all centered on reminding voters of his prior service as mayor, and that may not be the best way to go. Extrapolating that service into claiming qualification for the Oval Office doesn't cut it, especially for a pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, pro-gun control candidate who claims to be a conservative.

Former Massachussets Governor Mitt Romney reminds me of Count Chocula, and I may not ever be able to get past that. More disturbing is his conversion to conservatism of several major issues including abortion. One wonders if what he is saying now might not change in the future. Romney has the ability to self-finance his campaign, and he has outspent the other candidates by a wide margin. It didn't work in Iowa, and it looks like he may finish second to McCain on Tuesday. He is attacking Senator McCain mostly on immigration, an issue on which Romney is not exactly squeaky clean. His record as governor is just as suspect as Rudy's as mayor, and he has not demonstrated the long term commitment to basic conservative principles GOP voters should be seeking.

Huckleberry Hound Mike Huckabee is looking more and more like a one trick pony with each passing day. The former Arkansas governor does not have a deep evangelical base in New Hampshire like he enjoyed in Iowa. Frankly, his manner is starting to become annoying. Everything is a joke or a cute little saying lifted from one of the past sermons he delivered as a Baptist minister. Huckabee's populist rhetoric and calls of compassion for lawbreakers of various types seem more at home in the Democrat Party. He has made numerous factual errors in statements over the past month, revealing a lack of understanding of important issues. Fred Thompson took him to task Sunday evening for supporting the closure of GITMO and the movement of detainees to Leavenworth. Huckabee's retort showed a poor understanding of the legalities involved in such a move, including habeus corpus. He's a nice man, but we're not seeking a pastor.

Arizona Senator John McCain is leading the polls in New Hampshire, a state he won over George W. Bush in 2000. He obviously has the credentials and experience to be CINC and no one can challenge his honorable service in Vietnam as a prisoner of war held for five long years. McCain has, however, taken every opportunity that has come down the pike to compromise the conservative principles he espouses in the name of progress (judges, anyone?). From the blatantly unconstitutional McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill to the disastrous "comprehensive" immigration amnesty bill he authored last summer, there is a repeated pattern of cutting deals with liberals. And anyone who would put their name on a bill with Russ Feingold isn't a principled conservative. McCain claims he can get Osama and is most ready to be President, but I don't want yet another conservative who will make deals with Democrats.

Fred Thompson once again demonstrated a broad and deep knowledge of the issues and an outstanding ability to communicate conservative principles in easily understandable terms. Fred detailed his plan to reform social security, something no other candidate has offered. His plan to expand the military is exactly what is needed, and is also something no other candidate has detailed. Thompson has the clearest and strongest illegal immigration and border enforcement policies of any candidate on either side. Despite unfair coverage from Politico.com and Fox News, Fred has shown time and again why he's the best choice. Sunday night was another experiment proving Fred is the best candidate running.

In an apparent effort to immediately prove their bias, Fox went to a Frank Luntz focus group that allegedly came in undecided and came out committed to Romney. One has to wonder what they watched while the debate was in progress. It certainly seemed like a crowd stacked with people already committed to Romney.

The closing statements by the candidates boil it all down quite well. Huckabee gave his nice guy sermon, Romney claimed he's a problem solver, Rudy reminded us he was New York Mayor, and McCain said he's ready. Fred summed it up by pointing out that the next President will need the credibility to go to the American people and tell them the truth: that we have major difficulties that will not be solved overnight. GOP voters would be wise to consider those closing statements before casting a ballot. New Hampshire may not provide Fred with much support, but the race will soon swing south to much more fertile ground for a candidate with consistent conservative principles.