Fred, referring to a shot at Mitt Romney from a moment earlier: “I didn’t know there was any room to the left of Ted Kennedy. I didn’t know there was any room to the right of him, either.”

Fred cites reading, “The Conscience of a Conservative.”

Fred on Rudy and Romney: “Both of these gentlemen have done some good things in the respective jobs they had. He cites abortion, sanctuary cities, gun control, endorsing Mario Cuomo. “He sides with Hillary Clinton on those issues.”

Rudy: “Fred has his problems too… Fred was the single biggest obstacle to tort reform in the United States Senate.”

They’re getting into a back and forth citing of votes on tort reform.

It is a loud, fired-up crowd, compared to earlier debates. Lots of applause for the jabs.

Rudy emphasizes his immigration policy reported illegal immigrants who committed crimes.

Rudy on Fred: “The senator has never had executive responsibility. He’s never had people’s safety and security on his shoulders.”

McCain says that if they want to talk experience, he has the most, including leading the largest squadron in the U.S. Navy.

Romney takes a gracious line, saying he appreciates McCain’s service, then goes to talk about the conservative issues he took up against the “liberal lion.” “All of us on this stage are Republican, but who among is going to strengthen the house that Reagan built?”

McCain: “The lawyers are the last people I call in during a crisis.” “You’ve been trying to fool people about your record. I don’t want you to try to fool people about mine.”

Man, Romney’s just got a bulls-eye on his back tonight.