Thompson asked about No Child Left Behind he says some of critics were right and some of us were wrong. Talks about teaching to the test and returns to a theme of limiting the federal government to assisting states and importance of fathers. Back to Rudy on schools and asked about his comments wanting to “blow up the schools.” “I care about kids more” he says and talks in favor of school choice. What is wrong with No Child Left Behind– we should empower parents. Repeated applause. This is the Rudy that got liberals mad at in NY– taking on government bureacrats.

At the break: Thompson is the most improved and has been solid. McCain is on his game. His opponents have not gone after Rudy, at least not as agressively as one could have imagined, and he has parried by coming right back at his opponents. The shakiest so far: Romney who never quite taken the bull by the horns. (When McCain calls him a liar it seemed an opportunity to defend himself but the moment was lost.)And Huckabee-give him some more questions!