I don't have much interest in the Republican debate (I'll be watching former President Clinton on Larry King Live)but I think it's telling that Fred Thompson is skipping the debate and will appear on the Tonight Show instead to announce his candidacy.

He's been losing staffers in droves. New Hampshire voters don't sound pleased they're being snubbed:

"There is a genuine interest in Senator Thompson here, a real curiosity about him," New Hampshire Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen said Tuesday. "But that curiosity is giving way to skepticism and maybe even cynicism about him in part because of how he's handling his grand entrance. For him to then go on Jay Leno the same night and be trading jokes while other candidates are having a substantive discussion on issues is not going to be missed by New Hampshire voters."

The other candidates have an 8 month lead on him and more money.

I don't think any Republican candidate has warmed the hearts and minds of voters. Not that I'm complaining.