Thompson said overshadowed in GOP debate

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Fred Thompson made his debut in a Republican presidential debate Tuesday in Michigan, but at least one report said he was overshadowed by his rivals.

The Chicago Tribune said Thompson aides worked hard to lower expectations for the former Tennessee senator and Hollywood actor, and they were right: Though Thompson joked about his late entry into the race, saying, "I admit it was getting a little boring without me," he was outshone by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who battled with each other while Thompson stood awkwardly between them.

Nine Republican presidential candidates showed up in Dearborn to debate issues affecting Michigan.

Dearborn's Newschannel 3 said even though Romney is fourth in national polls of leading Republican contenders, he is popular in Michigan, where his late father was governor.

However, Democratic presidential candidates haven't lost Michigan since 1992.

Giuliani and Romney took turns slamming each other's fiscal responsibility, with Giuliani saying he cut taxes 23 times as mayor and Romney saying tax cuts had to be matched with budget cuts.

Romney described Giuliani's record as "big city, big spending," while Giuliani fired back with "Taxachusetts hypocrisy," the Tribune said.