Huckabee got a toehold in the race through good debate
performances. He's been the new "it" candidate since Ames, enjoying
a poll bump and, according to his report in last week's media call,
some fundraising and organizational improvements. He has the most
to lose by Thompson's entry but, he has argued, poses a danger to
Thompson whom he leads in several early state polls.(Coming in
behind Huckabee in Iowa for example would be a problem for
Thompson.) Here's what his spokeswoman Kirsten Fedewa relayed from
Huckabee about tonight: "The debates are an important forum for
people to judge us for themselves--not from a highly tested and
consultant-driven tv spot, but the actual candidates having to
answer questions they may not expecting. I always look forward to
the challenge."