Thompson survives first debate

Fred Barnes:

First impressions are supposed to be 90 percent of politics. If that's the case, Fred Thompson should have a decent shot at the Republican presidential nomination. The impression he created in Tuesday's Republican debate in Detroit wasn't that of a dominant figure or a replica of Ronald Reagan. But he came across as likable, knowledgeable on issues but not wonky, and unexcitable. So Thompson passed the test of whether he could run with the big boys - Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, and John McCain - in the Republican race.

That was the only big thing that happened in the debate. But there were a few small things of note. Giuliani proved again that he knows how to force himself front and center in a televised debate. He does it by being aggressive and by leapfrogging the other candidates to take on the Democratic presidential favorite, Hillary Clinton.

Romney should have been a stronger presence, given the debate was focused on economic and financial matters, his issues. He talked about the value of having a president with experience in working in the real economy. That's a fair point, but Romney wasn't able to make much out of it.

I thought Romney made two mistakes. Asked if he'd seek congressional approval before attacking Iran, Romney said he'd have to check with his lawyers. Sorry, sir, but that's a decision for the president to make, not the White House counsel. Romney also insisted on zinging Giuliani for challenging the presidential line item veto in court. Giuliani said the veto was unconstitutional and the Supreme Court agreed with him, 6 to 3, with two conservatives - William Rehnquist and Clarence Thomas - in the majority. This was the wrong issue to use against Giuliani.

These were small mistakes, sure to be long forgotten by the time the Iowa caucuses roll around in early January. In fact, most things that happen in debates during the year before the primaries and caucuses have no impact on the outcome of the nomination struggle. If there's an exception to this rule, it's slipped my mind.

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Thompson is usually at his best with a clever rejoinder. It is a lawyer's skill and he used it toward the end in a dual with Romney. "And to think, I thought I'd be the best actor on the stage," Thompson said in response to a jab about showing up late in a Law and Order episode. It reminded me of his clever response to Michael Moore on the Cuban health care system.

Giuliani's skill as a debater still make him the best campaigner at this point, but he has to overcome some highly emotional opposition.