Republican debate's first segment reflections

Huckabee had a good joke about Thompson. McCain's joke gets a laugh as well, as does Giuliani's. McCain then ruined it by telling a "joke" that no one laughed at and that he had to tell the crowd was funny. Huckabee had the advantage of going first, but he also has great delivery about "no-show Thompson." Giuliani's joke is perhaps more memorable--Thompson did a good job of playing my job on TV. That's a more memorable line than the Huckster's, though less well-delivered.

Immigration is the first substantive topic. Romney gives a very smooth answer to a very tough question. Hunter gives a smooth response as well. The Huckster continues the strategy of his whole campaign of a kind of David Cameron conservatism--conservative policies combined with sunny, relentlessly positive rhetoric. Tancredo's impassioned response hurts Giuliani and McCain, but the contrast with Huckabee plays into the hands of the Huckster.

Hunter has an applause-line on scandals and the Democrats. He looks comfortable and presidential. Giuliani has a solid response to a gun-control question. It's right down his alley. Ron Paul gets applause for his first substantive answer, a libertarian proposal to get the government out of airport security. Brownback gets to answer two questions on family values, right down his alley.