In answer to the “Do you believe this book literally?” question about the Bible, we did, as the questioner expected, get a real glimpse into the candidates. Giuliani gave the answer, not of a “godless urbanite,” as one reader recently called him, but of a man with a serious Catholic education who is secular but thoughtful, and not anti-religious.

Romney claimed to believe it is “the word of God.” Literally. But he kept ending his sentences wanting to say, “But….” But what? But I don’t take it literally, I would guess. Instead he swallowed it, which doesn’t sound authentic coming from him.

Huckabee was smooth. He could say a straight “Yes.” But he could also talk about allegory.