Keyes to attend the next GOP debate

As if the bloody stage wasn't crowded enough, Alan Keyes has accepted an invitation to the next GOP debate in Iowa:

Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes has accepted an invitation to participate in the last scheduled — and in some ways most important — Republican debate before the Jan. 3 first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucus.

The Des Moines Register's Republican Presidential Debate is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Dec. 12 at Iowa Public Television's Maytag Auditorium in Johnston, Iowa.At last report, all major Republican candidates except former NY mayor Rudy Giuliani have also accepted the invitation to participate.

The Des Moines Register has a reputation for putting on fair and informative events. Their debates have become an Iowa tradition that reporters and editors from across the nation take seriously.

The debate will be broadcast live on statewide Iowa Public Television from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (CT) Dec. 12, and will be re-broadcast at a later time on IPTV. The program will also be offered to public television stations across the country.

Ambassador Keyes expressed his thanks to the sponsors of the event, saying, "I'm grateful to those who will not abandon their resolve to raise the standard of political integrity. I pray God that my participation in the debate will vindicate their good will."

This is a smart move on the part of the GOP. Why? Because Keyes is not only a noted and intelligent politician, but he's probably one of the best orators in the nation, and that little bit of class and style I think will help the debaters. The only drawback, and one that might be costly, is the fact that Rudy isn't going to attend; at least that's the case as of right now.

But let's face facts, folks ... the field of the GOP candidates is pretty big on that stage. The Democrats have narrowed their field; only seven participated in the last Democrat debate. The GOP candidates should seriously take a look at their field, and a couple should bow out now. Sam Brownback was smart in removing himself from the field. He wasn't getting the needed contributions, he wasn't polling any higher than 1%, and he was not looking good in the debates.

Who else could bow out? I know some readers are thinking I'm going to say Ron Paul should go, but given the fact that he's polling high now in Iowa (and the fact the GOP candidates in the debates need some comic relief), we'll leave Paul in for now. But Representatives Tancredo and Hunter could easily bow out. (Don't get us wrong here. We like them both, but the money isn't flowing in, and they're not polling well. It's the Sam Brownback campaign all over again.)

Will Alan Keyes really make a difference in the field? Probably not. He might attract some new supporters, and he might actually push the field to sound, act, and debate better, but he's a lot like the also-rans; he has not shot at the nomination. (Don't get ticked at us. We read the political tea leaves, and nothing more. He would have to knock a lot of people's socks off to have a shot at the nomination.)

Publius II