Big Night

The Republican race takes center stage as candidates debate in Durham, NC... well, most of the candidates debate. Fred Thompson, who is scheduled to announce officially tomorrow on his website, will instead go on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. But not to worry, voters!-- Team Fred is running a TV commercial during the debate.

"On the next president's watch, our country will make decisions that will affect our lives and our families far into the future," Thompson says in the ad. "We can't allow ourselves to become a weaker, less prosperous and more divided nation."

So that takes care of that...

To be fair, though, it's not like there won't be a half-dozen other debates before the first ballots are cast.