SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE - WRAP UP

The debate is over and throughout the day pundits will be discussing the winners, losers and the political implications to the candidates especially the front runners, Giuliani, McCain and Romney.

From a personal observation from the Koger Center and listening to questions and comments after the debate not much has changed in the overall GOP picture from before the debate. The first tier candidates are still comfortably in the lead while the second tier candidates are looking for ways to get voters to notice them.'

Many of those candidates did have the stand up and take notice impact last night as they took the opportunity to scrutinize the comments and records of the front runners and get in some rather interesting barbs in the process.

Though the barbs made for good sound bites the impact they will have on voters at least at this point in the campaign will be negligible. One second tier candidate whose chances are slim to gain the nomination is Congressman Ron Paul. His comment last night concerning 9/11 and how US policy and our , "bombing Iraq, " prior to September 11 caused Al Qaeda to attack this Nation has caused quite a stir in many circles today.

I had opportunity to question Congressman Paul after the debate on this particular statement of his and asked this question, " How do you as a Presidential candidate who is running to be the leader of the nation, justify to the American people blaming the single most devastating attack on the country on years of bombing Iraq and being in the Middle East ?"

Paul tried to deny that this is what he said so I interrupted him and said, " Congressman those were you own words and is what you said." he then tired to explain to me that CIA involvement in Iran, Iraq and our presence in the Middle East since the Gulf War along with taking out Saddam Hussein has caused a blow back effect which brought about 9/11 and the problems in Iraq today.

I then said to Paul, " So what you are saying is that when attacked we do not have the right to defend ourselves because Al Qaeda may be mad at us because we have a presence in the Middle East ? " To which he replied, "I don't understand you question." So I repeated the questions and he then accused me of questioning his patriotism. I replied that I wasn't questioning his patriotism just his contention that when attacked we do not have the right to defend ourselves.

Ron Paul the GOP candidate for President then began repeating Democrat talking points beginning with, " I would not have had a problem if we had gone after Al Qaeda but Bush stopped fighting them and went into Iraq." He followed with, "Bushes Iraq policy has allowed Usama Bin Laden to hide in the hills of Pakistan who is being led by a dictator with nuclear weapons and our own government calls him and ally."

I mentioned to him then before I finished that I believed he was running for the wrong party and needed to change the ,"R," to a ,"D." Probably not the best finish to an interview but I had all I could stomach of Ron Paul.

I had opportunity to have more productive interviews with both Congressman Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo which I will elaborate on in another article. I did have opportunity to ask a question of someone I had not expected to see in Columbia. Former Maryland Lt. Governor and Senate Candidate Michael Steele was in the spin room.

I actually caught him of guard with my question which was, " There is talk in many GOP circles that whoever wins the nomination would benefit greatly in selecting you as their running mate. What are your thoughts on this and would you consider accepting ?"

Steele laughed and said, " I don't know what kind of water they've been drinking, you definatly caught me off guard with that one. I am concentrating my time and efforts on working for and doing what is best to boost the Republican Party and insure that we have the best and most qualified candidates to run for office with the goal of taking back the majority. As for VP ....well thanks for the thought but you really caught me off guard with that one, it was a good question and we will have to see."

As far as Giuliani, McCain and Romney, after they had a few moments on Hannity and Combs after the debate they promptly waved and in the midst of the entourage quickly exited the Spin Room. So we had no opportunity to question any of the three front runners.

All in all the day was informative and very productive especially for the Fair Tax rally. The impact from the rally has caused the GOP to take notice and seriously consider the Fair Tax in its 2008 platform. I talked with many of the GOP state chairman off the record and they mentioned that they will be discussing the fair tax in party meetings being held in Columbia this week.

As far as the GOP candidates while the front runners are still safely in the lead, some of the lesser candidates did benefit from the exposure and the questions. The Republicans for Planned Parenthood that I reported on yesterday have been found out to be Democrat plants to damage Rudi Giuliani with the conservative base. This story could have a little play when if it comes out in the MSM.

I also want to give a special thank you to my team whose help and exhaustive work yesterday made the day less complicated and hectic. Chris Lovelace and Travis Whitaker were invaluable and did an excellent job with pictures and helping me chase down people and stories. Pictures and interviews will follow over the next few days.

Ken Taylor