At GOP Debate, Clinton Emerges as Focus

Presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain and Duncan Hunter talk after the debate in Dearborn, Michigan.

For Thompson, the exercise was even more personal: "I don't have to pretend to be a union member, because I have been one," he said. "The Screen Actors Guild still counts, right?"

Unions, he said, have "done a lot of good for this country over the years, and will continue to do so."

A half-dozen down, and counting

The live, televised debate, the sixth time the GOP contenders have mixed it up, at times made for bizarre viewing. While the candidates answered questions on the economy, the CNBC news ticker at the top of the screen ran the headline "S&P sets record close," while two stock tickers crawled on the bottom of the screen under the headline, "The Republicans, the Economy and You."

But though the view could be disconcerting, there emerged some clear messages: Late-to-the-race Thompson helped himself and gave his campaign a much-needed lift. (When asked whether he'd waited too long to get in the race, Thompson said no, adding: "I gotta admit, it was getting a little bit boring without me.") Giuliani and Romney want this to be a three-person race, with Hillary Clinton rounding out the field. There's life in McCain's effort. And Huckabee will continue to emerge as the field's compassionate conservative—fueling speculation about his viability as a vice presidential contender.