Debate oddities

Many of those watching today's much-anticipated debate in Des Moines among the Republican presidential aspirants no doubt were surprised to find perennial candidate (and perennial also-ran) Alan Keyes part of the proceedings.

True, Keyes could not resist the temptation to technically join the fray. But his "campaign" (if that word even applies) has been even more cursory than usual. And his addition in the debate likely will only needlessly distract from the last chance the main contenders will have to trade blows before the Jan. 3 caucuses.

Thursday's face-off among the Democrats in Iowa, meanwhile, apparently will be notable for an absence. Dennis Kucinich has been informed by the debate organizer, the Des Moines Register, that there won't be a podium available for him because, according to a release from the Kucinich campaign, "his Iowa field director operates from a home office rather than a rented storefront."

You can read the entire release here.

-- Don Frederick