The 1600 Block

The second debate amongst the Republican candidates for President last night in Charleston, South Carolina featured the first body-blows of the campaign and some clever one-liners. With only 538 days left until November 4, 2008, the ten candidates for the Republican Party nomination traded jabs and barbs for 90 minutes last night.

The debate wavered between pugnacious and comical as Gov. Romney and Senator McCain traded barbs and Gov. Mike Huckabee knocked "John Edwards in a beauty shop". Some sparks flew between former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Representative Ron Paul after Dr. Paul suggested that U.S. policy was partly to blame for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

All three "top tier" candidates have seen fit to declare victory this time.