Taxes       4          1        2        5       3

Change     5             2        1       4       3

National      5             1         2       3      4

  Defense

Immigration 2          3         1       4        5

Negative      3            1          2        5      4

   Campaigns

National      3             2       1       4       5   (question was the closing comment)

    Election

Final Score: 22        10         10       25       23

Comments:

1. I would have like to have heard a couple different questions than the one asked. I cannot stand questions about "change." Sen. Thompson and Mayor Giuliani made this clear by pointing out every election is about change. I would have much preferred to hear a question such as, "The Republicans lost their majority in the last mid-term election. Why did this happen and how will your candidacy correct this?"

2. Sen. McCain is going to establish himself as the Republican John Kerrey candidate. He will be sure to point out to everyone he fought in Vietnam and the others did not. Sen. McCain, we all get you are a war hero but that does not qualify you to be President of the United States. His dig at Gov. Romney about him being patriotic and leading a fighter squadron while others were only out to make a profit was uncalled for. Quick supply-side lesson for Sen. McCain: The people out to make a profit, are the same people employing the people. If they make a higher profit, they are probably going to employ more people.

3. Gov. Huckabee. The illegal immigrants are not lurking in the shadows. Drive by any Home Depot in the southwest U.S. and they will be pretty much in the open.

4. Mayor Giuliani turned me off with his "tamper-proof I.D. card." Being a former U.S. Attorney, he should know that anything can be counterfeit. Its simple Mr. Mayor. Keep them out until they can be here legally, than they get a proper I.D.

5. Every election cycle I am frustrated by candidates (who usually cannot intelligently answer a  charge against them) who complain about negative campaign ads. Mr. Huckabee, Gov. Romney did not criticize your person, family, or character. He questioned your decisions. Let me try to explain it a different way for you. I am a baseball fan. Let s say my team hears about a pitcher that throws the ball consistently at 100 mph (without HGH.) Sounds like a guy they should go out and get right? But then they see him, he cannot throw acurveball or a changeup, and cannot hit the broadside of a barn. The guy has no shot at making it. The point is this. We only get the whole picture based on the positive and the negative. Unfortunately for you sir, we are getting the whole picture. So when someone "attacks" you for something you did as governor, do not just hide behind your "I'm not going to answer that" because you hate negative campaigns.

6. Sen. McCain referred to us being in two wars. That sounds strangely like what the Democrats said about Iraq, that its a separate, unrelated war. I would try one war/two-fronts if you want the Republican vote.

7. As everyone else has said, answer the question Gov. Huckabee. You clearly did raise the taxes (or I doubt anyone would have asked you) so give us a good reason why you did. While I probably still will not like you as a candidate, at least man up and answer.

8. Of the five leading candidates (I think Duncan Hunter is still the overall best but I'm giving up hope on that one) I think Fred Thompson's views fit most in line with what I look for in a Republican candidate. Based on his performance though, I do not think he stands to do real well. We'll see what happens as we approach Feb. 5 and the California Primary.