The assassination of Benazir Bhutto continued to reverberate across the campaign trail in Iowa this morning, with Democrat Bill Richardson staking out the hardest line regarding a United States response to the killing.

Richardson, governor of New Mexico and a former United Nations ambassador, called on the Bush administration to suspend all military aid to Pakistan not directly related to fighting terrorism.

“Not one penny more until (Pakistani President Pervez) Musharraf is gone and the rule of law is restored,” Richardson said.

His speech this morning in Des Moines followed his call Thursday for Musharraf to step down from the presidency, a position no other candidate has yet taken.

“When President Musharraf declared martial law we could’ve stood up, but we did not. When he suspended the constitution, we could’ve stood up, but we did not. Now, after yesterday’s terrible murder, the United States must stand up,” he said.

In his speech to about 200 supporters at the Des Moines Botannical Center, Richardson touted his foreign policy experience as being superior to the current administration, Republican candidates and his rival Democrats.

”The American people should not settle for untested leadership,” he said.

What’s your reaction to Richardson’s proposal?

By Tim O’Brien

Yesterday, I made fun of Tim Russert and Wolf Blitzer. Then I witnessed Carolyn Washburn. The Register is a great newspaper, and she’s probably a great editor. But as a moderate, not so much. Yesterday, she allowed Alan Keyes hijack the debate. Today, 80 percent of the questions were recycled from yesterday. The new ones she asked were ridiculous. Asking Biden about his slips of the tongue when he talks about race, if Chris Dodd was running for president to avenge his father’s censure. And no questions about Iraq. Any discussion about the war was initiated by the candidates themselves. And there is no way that Iowans are wondering about our relations with China. I have relatives in Iowa. If you asked them how they felt about China, they’d say that it’s pretty chipped so they only use in on Sundays. Not on the radar. There has to be a happy medium.

The last debate probably didn’t change the landscape that much. The Democrat who made the most news today was George Mitchell, and he wasn’t in Iowa. So here are some winners and losers today.

Winners

Chris Dodd and Joe Biden: They definitely benefitted from the Washburn’s egalitarian view of questioning. If experience matters on Jan. 3, these two warhorse will fare well. Dodd was impassioned on the topic of energy independence and the need for carbon tax. Biden was the first to use the word “sacrifice” in the debate. I thought Biden’s best moment was in his answer about subsidies, he noted the first time he came to Iowa in 1974 as compared to now and how the family farm seems to be disappearing. That is an acknowledgement that will resonate in the hundreds of little Iowa towns that are quickly becoming ghost towns.

Barack Obama: In terms of pure politics, he has the momentum, so any debate that doesn’t dramatically change the dynamic of the race is good for him. But he had his moments. His humor was on display when he was asked why he had so many former Bill Clinton advisers working for him. When Hillary started to laugh, he said, “Hillary, I’m working forward to you advising me as well.” And, in defending Biden on the question about his racial gaffes, Obama was very classy and defended him by providing “some testimony, as they say in church, that Joe is on the right side of the issues.”

John Edwards: His answer on his New Years resolution was outstanding. He is more comfortable talking about the poor and hungry in this country than any candidate in a generation. On the downside, how many poor and hungry in Iowa go to caucuses?

Losers

Bill Richardson: Maybe it’s me, but this guy simply doesn’t connect. In the debates I’ve seen, he lacks the charisma necessary to win a general election. He seems ill at ease in answering questions. He’s got the resume, so I’m at a loss to understand why he’s been such an underwhelming candidate.

Hillary Clinton: Any debate that Obama does well in is bad news for her. Her performance was good, but her answer on having an open and transparent government will fail the smell test the first time someone asks for documents from the Clinton library.

By Tim O’Brien

The candidates are asked what they would do in their first year in office. They’ll end the war, restore civil liberties, reform education, mend fences in the world, address health care and energy independence. No one said “Crawford, Texas.” Chris Dodd said after Bill Richardson’s answer, “Sounds like a long year.”

Hillary is asked about her tendency towards secrecy. She promises an open, transparent government. Andrew Sullivan’s head just exploded.

Biden is asked about his gaffes in talking about race (”clean, articulate”). He defends himself by pointing to his record on civil rights. He gets applause from the audience and the candidates. Obama chimes in to defend Biden, giving him his best moment in the debate. I see why this guy is viewed by the most likable.

Washburn asks Dodd about his father and his censure by the U.S. Senate in 1964. Yes, 1964. Worst. Moderator. Ever.

I have witnessed the Hillary laugh. Goodness.

What is it with moderators and the last question? New Year’s Resolution? Why not let Pat O’Brien (no relation) ask the questions. At least Edwards, Dodd, Richardson, Biden and Obama used the question as the opportunity to make closing statements. And Hillary Clinton is left thinking, “It sucks to be the first one to answer the question.”

Extra time, so Washburn lets the candidates end the debate on note of pandering.

12:49: Chelsea Clinton is in the hizzouse!

The moderator is still Carolyn Washburn. Returning to the scene of the crime. Fred Thompson is an actor and in the state. Why not hire him?

And the first question is again about the debt. Is this a repeat or what? Is Ross Perot feeding Washburn the questions?

1:04: Bill Richardson is a governor! He’s balanced budgets! (Chris Dodd says big deal!)

1:09: Hillary makes her first reference to the Clinton years. It won’t be the last.

So is balancing the budget a priority? Sure, why not, they all agree. Don’t ask them the details, though.

They move on to taxes. Edwards, Clinton are clear that tax hikes (or doing away with the Bush tax cuts) are on the table. I’m not sure what Richardson believes.

Two points: Washburn wants the answer to be limited to 60 seconds. She does have a watch, then. And these folks are great at answering the questions — just not the ones that are asked.

By Tim O’Brien

What a difference Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama make. Yesterday, I showed up at the IPTV studios at about 10:30 a.m., walked right in, grabbed one of the subs from HyVee catering and waited for the debate to begin.

But when a first lady and an African-American presidential candidate who’s been the subject of death threats are in the debate, security is stepped up just a bit. Like wait-outside-for-45-inutes,-walk-through-a-metal-detector-and-don’t-pet-the-bomb-sniffing-dogs stepped up. Actually, go ahead. This is Iowa, after all. On the upside, we have lasagna today.

Yesterday, Alan Keyes stole the show — and not in a good way. I blamed IPTV, but was wrong. The Des Moines Register set the rules. You have to have a campign office in Iowa, a paid staffer and receive at least one percent of support in a Des Moines Register poll. Keyes had all three. Oddly, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel didn’t. They’re sitting this one out.

That could be a boon for Joe Biden, Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd. They’ll have more of an opportunity to make an impression with Iowa voters. Depending on who wins, its likely that either three or four (if Edwards wins) goes on to New Hampshire, South Carolina and beyond. Getting above 15 percent is key. Keep an eye on Biden. He’s second in endorsements from Iowa legislators and has been very impressive in the debates so far.

As for Hillary and Obama, it will be interesting to see how much they engage each other. The Clinton campaign has tried to make an issue out of Obama’s kindergarten ambitions and teenage drug use. If Obama returns fire, it could backfire on both. Remember the 2004 suicide pact between Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt. Their war against each other in the weeks leading up to the caucus probably gave the nomination to John Kerry. John Edwards, ironically the most negative of the three over the long haul, is breaking out the warm and fuzzy strategy. He may benefit if Obama and Clinton clash.

It’s over. What the Des Moines Register billed as possibly “seismetic” was more of yawn. No high drama, some low comedy (thanks to Alan Keyes).

Winners:

- Mike Huckabee: There must be something in the water in Arkansas. This guy has the best stage presence since the first man from Hope. He can turn a phrase like no one else on that stage. On the question about exports, Huckabee said that he “can’t part the Red Sea, but I can part the red tape.” For those voters who are looking for a true compassionate conservative, he seems to be the real deal. He definitely benefitted by the lack of questions about immigration and foreign policy.

- Fred Thompson: His best moment in any debate was when he nixed the “raise your hand” questions. Thank you. The nine people on stage (well, eight — we won’t count Keyes) are running for president, not a guest host job on “Regis and Kelly.” Any question worth asking is worth a minute’s answer. He seemed to be the grown up that everyone expected him to be. And his answer about deficit spending was presidential and nonpandering.

- John McCain: His answer to the question to whether he ever wished that he compromised his principles (short answer, no) was vintage McCain. I misspoke earlier when I said he supported ethanol. He maintained his opposition to the subsidy, pretty gutty in Iowa. But he’s not competing here. He was talking to moderate New Hampshire voters. And they dig Maverick McCain.

Losers:

- Rudy Giuliani: Any debate in which he again has to address the funny bookkeeping in New York for his mistress’s security is not a good debate for him. And, unlike network debates, moderator Carolyn Washburn, editor of the Des Moines Register, didn’t feel the need to keep coming back to Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.

- Mitt Romney: Huckabee is so smooth and such a natural that he just makes Romney’s robotic plasticness that much more glaring. What he needed was one of the also-runs launch a full-frontal attack on Huckabee. Tom Tancredo took a shot late, but it wasn’t enough. He entered trailing Huckabee and leaves trailing Huckabee.

- Iowa Public Television: I don’t know the rules for getting a podium at these debates, but whatever allowed Alan Keyes in Iowa, much less on stage, needs to be changed. He bullied Washburn. He demanded equal time to answer the questions asked of other candidates and promptly launched into a rant. Give him space on YouTube.

Tomorrow, the Democrats take the stage.

Rudy finally mentions 9/11.

By Tim O’Brien

Something must be wrong. The debate has actually shifted focus to education. Have either party talked about this issue in debates?

Almost all of the candidates stressed the need for more choice. Mike Huckabee said he would roll out “weapons of mass instruction,” saying that education must address both the left and right side of the brain. Tom Tancredo challenged him, saying that the president should not be involved in curriculum. If he wants to do that, he should run for governor. Huckabee responded by saying the second-most important job of a president is that of “communicator in chief.”

A really thoughtful discussion.

Fred Thompson won’t let the moderator get away with a show of hands question on whether candidates believe in Global Climate Change and if humans contribute to it.

John McCain gives an impassioned answer, stating that he believes in it. He calls for combatting global warming, and if he’s proven wrong, the worst thing we’ve done is left our children a cleaner world.

Oh, Alan Keyes, you never let us down. You should get a late-night talk show. He turns the question into a rant about sovereignty and democracy.

The topic moves to trade.

Ron Paul said that he’s for open markets. In fact, he would lift the embargo with Cuba. Floridians are not likely to reward him for his candor.

McCain gets bonus points for referring to “Iowa markets” and ethanol.

Tancredo is able to turn a question about NAFTA and make it about immigration. And Lou Dobbs smiles.