Trying to win the toughness primary

Romney, who addressed the RJC afternoon session, said Democrats must be forced to answer the question, “’Will you act to stop a nuclear Iran?’ Let me assure you of one thing — I will.”

Romney sought to advance beyond the now somewhat stale formula that use of military force “is on the table.”

Tehran must understand “not only is the military option on the table, it is in our hands…. We are poised and ready to act,” he said. The former Massachusetts governor didn't repeat his statement from last week about consulting with lawyers first.

Inadvertently Romney brought up the issue that neither Giuliani nor McCain nor any member of the audience raised: the economic consequences of a strike on Iran.

What happens if oil goes to $100 a barrel?
In the course of answering a question from the audience on energy dependence, Romney said, “What happens to the world if we have $100 a barrel oil or $150 a barrel oil?”

None of the candidates offered or even hinted at any contingency plans for after the attack.

Speaking last on the bill, former Sen. Fred Thompson delivered a speech that often trafficked in general phrases rather than vivid specifics: “It is vital that we signal to our friends and foes alike that we will do whatever is necessary, wherever we must draw the line, to prevail in any crisis that we face.”

Thompson was in unison with others on Iran: “The U.S. must make it clear we will not allow Iran to become a nuclear threat. The military option must never be off the table.”

The crowd gave him dutiful but brief applause

The RJC audience did not have a chance to apply the toughness test to former Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was not at the RJC event due to a scheduling conflict.

He was the most blunt and militant in the CNBC debate. "I would do it in a heartbeat," he said referring to a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear sites, if the mullahs appear on brink of testing a bomb.

Bipartisan accord on Iran
Up to a point, the accord on Iran is bipartisan.

“Let me say very clearly: Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. We cannot have this proliferation of nuclear states. It's just not safe for the world.”

That wasn’t any GOP presidential contender, that was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking two weeks ago.

But Pelosi said that President Bush does not have authority to use military force against Iran. “The only military action a president can take without an act of Congress is if our country is attacked,” she said.

What the presidential contenders haven’t yet addressed is the day after the attack on Iran and the prospect of life with $150-a-barrel oil.

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