Analysis: GOP Rivals Walk Delicate Line

Republican presidential hopeful Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, speaks during a presidential forum at the National Right to Life Convention in Kansas City, Mo. in this June 15, 2007 file photo. Paul may be the political butterfly of the 2008 presidential campaign. An obscure congressman from Southeast Texas for most of his political career, Paul has metamorphosed into the favorite of legions of die-hard fans across the country who have been exposed to his contrarian views through Republican candidate debates and Internet blogs. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File) (Orlin Wagner - AP)

"They need to create some differences between themselves and the administration," said Lampkin. "We're at a critical point in making sure the American people are seeing differences."

"They wanted air between themselves and Washington," said GOP strategist Frank Luntz. "Washington is a four-letter word in Republican primary politics.

At the same time, the rivals made it very clear there would be no fundamental shift in policy in Iraq should they win the White House.

"The reality is you do not achieve peace through weakness and appeasement," said former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

One of the sharpest exchanges of the debate came over abortion and Brownback's attack on Romney for not being strong enough in his opposition to it.

"It's truthful," Brownback said of an automated phone call his campaign made to highlight his rival's one-time support for pro-choice policies. "I am pro-life. I think this is a core issue for our party."

Romney called it "desperate, maybe negative," adding moments later, "I get tired of people that are holier than thou because they've been pro-life longer than I have."

The sharp exchange with Brownback led some to wonder if the well-financed Romney had allowed a lesser candidate to get under his skin.

"I'm a little bit surprised that Romney would let himself get into sort of an angry exchange with Brownback," said Rogers. "If you have to find a mistake in the debate, that was it."

The brightest moments of the debate may have taken place when the candidates turned their fire toward their Democratic counterparts. Potentially the most memorable line came when Romney attacked Democrat Barack Obama for first suggesting he would talk to hostile foreign leaders and then raising the potential of going into Pakistan to root out terrorists.

"He's gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week," said Romney.

That assault cheered some strategists who said it could mark the beginning of a phase where GOP candidates go on the offensive.

"They took a specific question back to Democrats," said Winston.

"As a party, in many ways, we have been back on our heels," said Eskew. "The way you get off your heels is to get back on your toes and go."

The debate likely did little to reshape a field where Giuliani, Romney and McCain are considered the top tier.

"None of the second tier did anything to move themselves," said GOP strategist David Winston, who is not aligned. "Romney and Giuliani did what they had to do."

The high-profile Iowa straw poll next week is likely to have more impact on winnowing the field.

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EDITOR'S NOTE _ Mike Glover has covered Iowa politics and the Iowa caucuses since 1982.