GOP Debate: Not Quite a Smoka in Boca

BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 25, 2007 — -- It was less a Republican debate than a Rotary Club discussion -- and a soporific one at that. There were no attacks made, few contrasts drawn, little indication that the candidates are just five days away from a crucial primary contest.

In fact, the candidate who has the most to lose here -- former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has staked his campaign on success in the Sunshine State -- even said "these are terrific candidates ... running very, very good races."

The various campaigns' press secretaries were busy writing nasty e-mails and press releases about their bosses' opponents, but on stage it was the Hippocratic debate -- first do no harm. And no one did any harm to themselves, or to each other.

The harshest words uttered were when one moderator, NBC's Brian Williams, quoted the mother of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who on C-SPAN said that the Republican base would "hold its nose" and vote for her son, or maybe when Williams quoted The New York Times' endorsement of McCain, which had several harsh words for their hometown mayor.

"I probably never did anything the New York Times suggested I do in eight years as mayor of New York City," Giuliani said when he read the harsh invective. "And if I did, I wouldn't be considered a conservative Republican."

Indeed, the campaigns of both Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney e-mailed reporters the Times endorsement of McCain. The McCain campaign did not.

McCain did interrupt his answer to another question, however, to offer a defense of Giuliani against the Times.

"If you'll indulge me one second, I know this is unusual, but I happen to know Rudy Giuliani," McCain said. "I happen to know he's an American hero. And I happen to have gone to New York City after 9/11. And I'm proud of the way he led this country and united it following 9/11. And all these are good people who are running here. And I respect them. And I intend to respect them both during and after this campaign is over."