Note: This is an expanded look at the GOP debate.

Less than a week after the New Hampshire primary, where exit polls showed voters of both parties extremely concerned about the economy (WashPost), Republican candidates laid out their economic views. Mitt Romney, with an eye on the January 15 Michigan primary, attacked Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) at last night’s Republican Fox News debate for his recent comments that the jobs that have left the Michigan economy will not return. Romney pledged to “fight for every single job—Michigan, South Carolina, every state in this country.” McCain stuck to his contention that those jobs “aren’t coming back,” but said the government is “going to take care of them.” McCain recently spelled out the importance of reforming Trade Adjustment Assistance in a CFR.org interview.

Iran: The candidates commented on the reported near-conflict earlier in the week between U.S. and Iranian ships in the Straight of Hormuz. Mike Huckabee said the incident shows that the United States must send a message to “anybody,” not just Iran, that “if you think you’re going to engage the United States military…be prepared that the next things you see will be the gates of Hell.”

Rudy Giuliani said the incident should serve as a warning that “we shouldn’t be lulled into some false sense of confidence about Iran.” Fred Thompson said Iran was “clearly testing us,” and said the Iranians “need to understand that if they cross the line, they’re going to be destroyed.” Only Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) said the incident was being exaggerated.

Mideast Peace: Commenting on President Bush’s trip to the Middle East, Giuliani said the Palestinian Authority must “make it clear that it will accept the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state,” and “forgo terrorism.”

Paul said U.S. involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process hinders “incentives to come to a peace agreement.” Paul said the United States treats Israel “like a stepchild” and undermines their sovereignty.

Responding to Paul, Huckabee said disengagement from Israel would be “recklessly irresponsible on our part.” He called Israel the “one true ally in the Middle East” of the United States.

Immigration: Differences over illegal immigration did not dominate like in previous Republican debates and the candidates stuck to their past statements on the issue. Fred Thompson made a point of criticizing the comprehensive immigration reform package that McCain supported last year (and which died in the Senate). McCain said he would emphasize border security first in any new reform legislation and on illegal immigrants in the country added: “[O]bviously two million of them who have committed crimes have to be rounded up and deported immediately. They cannot stay in our society. And we must then, in my view, address it in as humane and compassionate way as possible.”

Commenting on the potential Hispanic vote, Huckabee cited a “misperception that Hispanic people in this country somehow are soft and weak on immigration.” Paul acknowledged that the Republican party might lose votes over the immigration issue. But, he said, “quite frankly, the law is the law, and we should enforce the law.”