Top GOP Candidates blow off debate on minority issues

No Giuliani. No Thompson. No McCain. No Romney.

An empty podium for each of the top Republican candidates said everything. Well, not quite everything. Money was more important than minority issues:

As the candidates debated for 90 minutes on PBS, those who didn't were scattered around the country.

Thompson had three fundraising events in Tennessee, his home state. Romney was in California, wrapping up the day in Rancho Santa Fe. Giuliani also was in California, concluding his day with a fundraising event at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster. McCain began his day with a speech at the Hudson Institute in New York and spent the rest of the day in meetings and fundraising activities.

And it was the top story on the TODAY Show: