SNEAK PEEK: GOP Field Spars in NH

September 4, 2007— -- It's hard to believe that it's been exactly one (long) month since the Republican presidential field last gathered on stage together for a debate. But the candidates haven't let the lack of close proximity dampen their criticism of their opponents.

The eight Republican presidential candidates square off in another 90-minute debate Wednesday at the University of New Hampshire at 9:00 pm ET. The debate is being televised by Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio.

Since their August 5 grilling at the hands of ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, we have seen Romney attack Giuliani on sanctuary cities, Giuliani throw it back at Romney on crime and safety, Brownback call out Romney for flip flopping on abortion, Huckabee question Romney's credentials on gun rights and on and on and on…

Do the candidates have any new lines in store for us on Wednesday night? (One thing we don't expect to hear - wide stance.)

Fox News' Brit Hume moderates with questions from Chris Wallace and Wendell Goler.

Also Wednesday night, the ever-coy Fred Thompson finally ends his trial of the "absence makes the heart grow fonder" theory and is expected to announce he is running for president.

Don't look for the former senator turned actor on the stage in Durham, because he is not participating in the debate. But viewers will get to see a 30-second ad from the Thompson campaign airing once on Fox during the debate and throughout the day on Thursday only on Fox, ABC News' Christine Byun reports.

Thompson's online message officially launching his '08 campaign will happen shortly after midnight Thursday but Jay Leno and his Tonight Show audience will be the first to hear him announce that he's in when the candidate pays a visit to the Burbank studio.

Before the debate...
Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have no public events.

John McCain is in New Hampshire for a (closed press) tour and town hall meeting at the offices of Fidelity in Merrimack at 10:00 am ET. At 12:15 pm ET, McCain attends a meet in greet with the Chester Fire Department in Chester. He also attends a pre-debate party in Durham at 7:00 pm ET.