The original assumption was that Fred Thompson would be the focus of today’s debate, but as the event looms closer, it seems that Giuliani’s rift with Romney over his own record is where all of the backstage talk is.

Michigan’s economic status, worsened, perhaps, with last Monday’s round of Governor-supported tax increases, is fantastic territory for the GOP–made better by the Democratic Party’s de facto boycott of Michigan events over the early primary. While other candidates, like Hunter and Huckabee will likely propose simplification of the tax codes and fairer trade policies to preserve Michigan jobs, Giuliani has not been shy about using his ideas for a Michigan’s renaissance as a creative attack on his potential opponent, making not-hard-to-see connections between Jennifer Granholm and Hillary Clinton (including the similarities in haircut). He claims his record speaks to his ability to invigorate an economy through tax and regulation cuts. Mitt, on the other hand, is challenging Giuliani’s record at every turn, implying, according to the Detroit News, that Giuliani’s fiscal conservatism is “a sham” in expert reports and interviews. Its a fight thats been getting progressively nastier.

For all the pressure thats being put on Fred to shine, all he (and John McCain by default) may have to do is lay back and allow the two front-runners to duke it out with Chris Matthews as referee. The three–Romney, Thompson and Giuliani–are in a statistical dead heat for Michigan’s support (with McCain a mere point behind), and they cannot all afford to be controversial. The prize–likely the third state primary–may go to the one with the best ability to look the least angry.