ABC Debate: It Was Romney's Night

Update: Michelle has some screencaps here.

If you were looking for substance across the board on issues, I think Romney was the clear winner in tonight's debate. McCain's well-known temperament problems lingered barely below the surface much of the evening, especially when someone dared disagree with him. Except of course, for his hugs for Hillary and slaps on the back for Fred. This is a change election and old hands from the Senate will not get it done.

Notice Fred challenging people on the issues, but he wouldn't say a thing against old pal John on immigration, or other items he's changed on. Fredheads better clue up - their support for a losing candidate does nothing but enable McCain. Maybe he's already cast himself as his VP. Fred may be quaint, but he's ill-equipped to engage the electorate the way one must to win a presidential election. He should go back to Hollywood and get a surreal job. He doesn't belong in this race.

Huckabee is Mr. Platitude - energy independence in ten years. Maybe he plans on hooking up the red phone to God and calling for a miracle on that? He did half-okay, but certainly didn't shine, spending most of the time on the sidelines, letting individuals who know something do the talking. And thanks to the piling on, Romney got to do most of that. I think he was very effective and demonstrated the ability to go head-to-head with a Democrat in the Fall.

Romney needs to hang on, even with a second in New Hampshire. Over time, I think we may see a head-to-head with him and Rudy as the last two standing. Iowa's evangelicals voted for Huckabee. But enough of them also went for Mitt. Given that he can unite social cons, hawks and fiscal conservatives, I am not suggesting Romney is Reagan - but he may be the only nationally viable candidate capable of carrying the classic Reagan conservative banner into 2008.

Comments

[Janet Reno]

Obama’s efforts to connect to the Republican Party, specifically Bush, and Dick Chaney, of the Halliburton Company, dates back to the Presidents Grandfather, Prescott Bush, and indeed Chaney was once an executive officer of Halliburton.

The American military pounds Iraq with Artillary, bombs, and the like, destroying large sections of cities, and infra-structures, then Halliburton comes in to rebuild. Halliburton and Halliburton associated companies have raked in ten’s of billions.

Obama is just like the BIG HALIBURTAN. Haliburton has contracted to build detention centers in the U.S. similiar to the one in Quantanammo Bay, Cuba. Halliburton does nothing to earn the Two Dollars for each meal an American Serviceman in Iraq eats.

http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/

Halliburton was scheduled to take control of the Dubai Ports in The United Arab Emiirate. The deal was canceled when Bush was unable to affect the transfer of the American Ports.

Now we see what some might suspect as similiar financial escapading from the Democrats.

Two years ago, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity gave a $50 million contract to a start-up security company - Companion- owned by now-indicted businessman (TONY REZKO) Tony Rezko and a onetime Chicago cop, Daniel T. Frawley, to train Iraqi power-plant guards in the United States. An Iraqi leadership change left the deal in limbo. Now the company, Companion Security, is working to revive its contract.
Involved along with Antoin “Tony” Rezco, long time friend and neighbor of Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, and former cop Daniel T. Frawley, is Aiham Alsammarae. Alsammarae was accused of financial corruption by Iraqi authorities and jailed in Iraq last year before escaping and returning here.

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON --
Recently, Obama's campaign staff have been vetted by the IRS to disclose his connection to the criminal money generating underworld. Besides, his connections to the REZCO MAFIA types, his up-coming tax fraud charges — Obama needs to disclose why he is a MUSLIM "PATWANG-FWEEE" and disclose Obama's MUSLIM Farrakhan mob connection to Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. Its minister, and Obama's spiritual adviser, is the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. In 1982, the church launched Trumpet Newsmagazine; Wright's daughters serve as publisher and executive editor. Every year, the magazine makes awards in various categories. Last year, it gave the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award to a man it said "truly epitomized greatness." That man is Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan and Chicago's Trinity United Church are trumpeting Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama as the second coming of the messiah. Obama should stop suppoting our intervention in IRAQ. It’s time to introduce this false, fake Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke "GLORK" Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek. He is MAD!!! --

OBAM YOU'RE NO JFK --

"GLORK" Obama looks like Alfred E. Newman: "Tales Calculated To Drive You." He is a MUSLIM "Glork" He's MAD!!! Alfred E. Neuman is the fictional mascot of Mad. The face had drifted through American pictography for decades before being claimed by Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman after he spotted it on the bulletin board in the office of Ballantine Books editor Bernard Shir-Cliff, later a contributor to various magazines created by Kurtzman.
Obama needs to disclose why he is a MUSLIM "PATWANG-FWEEE" and stop suppoting our intervention in IRAQ. It’s time to introduce this false, fake "GLORK" Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek.

Michelle Obama should be ashamed.

"GLORK" Michelle Obama should be ashamed of her separatist-racist connection to Farrakhan and Chicago's Trinity United Church trumpeting Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama as the second coming of the messiah. If Michelle Obama new what her husband -- the Hope-A-Dope, Fonster Monster -- Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama did in Harlem, she would wash her wide-open, Hussuey loving MUSILM mouth out, with twenty-four (24) mule-team double-cross X-boX-BorraX. He is a MUSLIM "Glork" It’s time to introduce this false, fake "GLORK" Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo "GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA" Police Department Buffalo Creek. He's MAD!!!

http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/

[Adelle]

You people better wake up and smell the roses. We are going down big time if RUDY is not picked as our nominee. We need a candidate that has conservative creditionals and George Will says it best....Rudy ran New York like Reagan ran the White House.

Throw out your worries on any social issues. This is not what the presidency is about.

I am a pro life and conservative Christian who knows Rudy is the only choice we can make.

Many people in the celrgy are for him. Also people like Jeb Bush Jr. is working in his campaign. Doesn't that say something? Jeb is a conservative pro life Christian. He is not saying anything, but it speaks volumes when his son is that involved.

If some of you think Rudy was not smart while he was in Reagan's White House as Assist. attorney general, I think at the age of 29yrs. you are not thinking.....Rudy was the best mayor that New York ever had, turning a terrible city with crime, etc. completely around to where today it is one of the safest cities anywhere. Plus he handled 911 like a champ.

What is wrong with some of you that you can't see the forest for the trees. Wake up... If we are to beat either a horrible woman or even scarier to me, someone with no experience and yet has NO alligence to America ( check his church site and also check where he lived and with who)......

We must have a candidate that is so popular in large places like New York that he can get the democrat and independent vote. RUDY is the only one that can do that. He got a huge majority as mayor in a totally democract city.

Rudy went against the mob and beat them, although he had to have security 24 hours a day for doing that. People said crime could not be turned around and he did it.

Rudy is the best choice for America. And for you conservative pro lifers, he would appoint judges like Thomas, Alito and Roberts( of which he is good friends). Rudy will secure the borders, he stands for low taxes..cut, cut, cut, if necessary..

What more do you want?

Rudy is the best we have.....don't be fooled on anyone else.

[Booker]

Romney is clearly the smartest candidate. But there are a lot of smart leaders past and present who did not have the best intentions for the people they govern. Romney comes off as a deceptive weasel. An opportunist too undignified to ever pass up an opportunity to advance his agenda. His image screams power-hungry. I think the current climate of republican scandal and corruption during the Bush administration would make it almost impossible for Romney to win heads-up against any of the Dem candidates, because Romney seems to embody the exact personality people want to see less of from government.

[Booker]

Romney is clearly the smartest candidate. But there are a lot of smart leaders past and present who did not have the best intentions for the people they govern. Romney comes off as a deceptive weasel. An opportunist too undignified to ever pass up an opportunity to advance his agenda. His image screams power-hungry. I think the current climate of republican scandal and corruption during the Bush administration would make it almost impossible for Romney to win heads-up against any of the Dem candidates, because Romney seems to embody the exact personality people want to see less of from government.

[TheSpartan]

Fred is about "change" as well.

Yes, getting together with his kids for a group diaper "change".

[seekeronos]

Fred is about "change" as well.

But instead of a lot of the "throw the baby out with the bathwater" that a lot of the other pols (both R's and D's) seem to be pandering for... Fed wants to change back to the things that made this nation great.

Let us return to the Old paths, the Proven Ways.

Vote Fred!

[bboochie]

GOP ALERT: It appears that the other party will be nominating Obama with his theme of "Change." Are we going to counter that with a proven leader of change or will we nominate one of the old
crop from the past? To be in this competition we must nominate the very best we have. That is Mitt Romney. He is younger, brighter, a proven leader and out of the beltway of Washington. We cannot win with those that have seen their
best days years ago. Lets nominate Mitt Romney and at least be competaive in the
general election.

[Capitalist Infidel]

Dude, even the general election is not a "fifty state" contest. You think the democrat is going to campaign in Texas? Utah? Wyoming? Idaho? Alabama? Mississippi? Is a Republican going to campaign in Connecticut? Vermont? New York? Illinois?

[ZuniMan]

Running for President is not a part-time job.

When the other four candidates spent most of their energy bashing Romney in the first New Hampshire debate, it was clear that they feared his ability to compete in every State when they don't have the energy, commitment, funds or organization to do so. Why don't they? They've known for a long time that the election was coming up.

Do they think the Democrats will run a part-time 10 or 20 or 30 State campaign?

It is a sign of weakness that Giuliani, McCain, Huckabee and Thompson do not see the nomination as a 50 state deal, because the election is and will be a 50 state battle. Stated another way, the Republican minority cannot afford to write off any "small" state.

The most inane comment I've seen is that there must be something to it, if all four Republican candidates targeted Romney. Think it through, please!

The other four are part-time candidates who want to "cherry pick" which State they will compete in, so they can look good. Thus, they want to knock out the one full-time candidate so that their old boy/political group of part-time politicians can then have the nomination to themselves.

In government, maybe part-time work will get by, at least in the past.

Romney brings a full-time mentality and energy to the contest, and the part-timers can't match his energy or resources, so they pile on. It's totally predictable.

Any wonder why Washington is broke?

There is no perfect candidate, but all of these imperfect Republican candidates need to put aside their "cherry picking" laziness and treat the election like a full spectrum war across all States, or the Democrats will be eating our lunch for the next 8 years.

Why isn't anyone asking this question of all Republican candidates - Are you willing to battle a 50 state war? Do you have the energy, funds and organization? If not, get out of the way for someone who takes the battle seriously.

The Democrats will play hardball in every State. It's arrogant, defeatist and naive if a Republican candidate thinks he can succeed in the General Election by writing off "small" States or States where he won't do well.

[el gordo]

I still prefer Rudy Giuliani by a mile, but let´s be fair: Romney has not changed his positions more often than anyone else, Republican or Democrat.

I feel sorry for the multitudes in this election going on about how they want CHANGE and down with the elites etc. It must be hard for them to admit that the most plausible and experienced Washington outsiders are Romney and Giuliani. Mitt Romney is not a lifelong politician. He does not have that stale senate smell. And Rudy is downright anti-establishment.

If you want CHANGE it is most likely to come from these guys, not from lifers like McCain or Clinton (nobody knows what Obama stands for except standard liberal boilerplate).

[Fred Beloit]

Conservatives? Reliable conservatives? To appoint Federal and Supreme Court judges? To significantly reform the tax system? To end ethnic deprofiling at airports? Reliable? Let's see:
Judges- Tax Reform- Deprofiling- Pro self-defense- Can beat any Dem
Romney No No No Yes Maybe
Huckabee No ? No Yes No
McCain No No No ? Maybe
Giuliani No No Maybe No Maybe
Thompson Yes Yes Maybe Yes No

This is my best shot on these issues, anyway.

[Ray Blevins]

Huckabee painted himself in a corner with his words about a man who would lie to get a job. It is really pathetically funny. The Granite State will not be slickered like the tent revival in Iowa. Substance matters in NH.

Huckabee Said He Supported The Surge Before Romney. “I supported the president in the war before you did. I supported the surge when you didn’t.” (ABC/WMUR, [Unverified Transcript], Republican Presidential Candidate Debate, Manchester, NH, 1/5/08)

One Year Ago, Gov. Huckabee Did Not Offer His Support For The Surge:

Gov. Huckabee, January 2007: “Well, I’m Not Sure That I Support The Troop Surge.” MSNBC’s NORAH O’DONNELL: “We have a Rudy Giuliani, who supports the president’s plan on Iraq. We have Governor Mitt Romney, who also supports a troop surge. How are you different from any of those candidates.” HUCKABEE: “Well, I’m not sure that I support the troop surge, if that surge has to come from our Guard and Reserve troops, which have really been overly stretched.” (MSNBC’s “Live,” 1/24/07)

[Celestine]

SHUT UP ALL OF YOU MITT BASHERS... I could see how well people have intended in bullying Mitt in trying to cause him to look bad at the debates, he did very well even if a source told me he was ill that night.

Looking back, I was amazed to realize that He managed to stay alert and responsive to all childish bullets from others...This tells me he did not whine his way to bed, but to present himself and to complete important matters, this also tells me that he will do the same thing in Washington if something urgent happens, he will surely see to it rather than staying in bed, you know... right agreed? He's the agent of change.

the debate is set up solely to try to make Mitt look bad, nothing more nothing less... I have seen it all last night I am so turned off by how Charles Gibson moderated the debates, he treated the Republicans differently than Democrats- it shows how liberal the media is. He gave the Democrats gentler treatments and allowed them to have the chance to express what remarks they wished they would take back... and allowed them to elaborate on their political differences... why? The majority of liberal media elite are democrats and they wanted to see who came across the best... its for their own personal and political gain! OPEN YOUR EYES (or get your rosy-tinted glasses off)

On the Republican side, it was MEDIA against MITT- glorifying McCain for they knew he will not stand up against the democratic nominee... of course you ought to know better than that...MEDIA despises MITT because he can and will beat the democratic nominee when more people open up their minds and hearts and see who MITT really is...

HEY if you enjoyed OLYMPICS 2002 THANK MITT, for heaven's sake... IT WAS HIM WHO MADE IT HAPPEN HE SAVED THE OLYMPICS-how? He CHOSE THE RIGHT PEOPLE... HE WILL DO THE SAME THING in Washington ... HE IS THE TRUE CONSERVATIVE AGENT FOR CHANGE. HE HAS THE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE. HE WILL DO JUST FINE... GIVE HIM THE CHANCE AND YOU WILL THANK ME!

Frankly, I am very disappointed in all thick-skinned pundits and all media circuits... what a sickening unfairness- admit it!

... one way or another, MITT WAS THE MAN OF THE NIGHT-LAST NIGHT period!

GO MITT GO GO MITT!

[Capitalist Infidel]

Has anyone watched the clips that Dan has up? Good Lord, Romney sounds like a blathering stuttering idiot. He was my second choice but now........I'm not sure, he sure can't think on his feet!

[bboochie]

The negative gang up on Mitt Romney really showed just how much they all are in envy of him. It is totally clear that he is the one with leadership that they only can wish for. Most of them are over the hill and should pack up and go home.
We need a younger and proven leader.MnCain really showed his anger as he and Huckabee were the most negative of all. Lets get above the fray and support Mitt Romney.

[syn]

If Mitt should win the nomination please don't whine when he starts to govern like Schwarzennegger or 'manage the war' like Johnson.

The reason I am heading towards Fred, he isn't yanking my chain to get my vote.

[TheSpartan]

Fred particpated? I must have missed him.

[seekeronos]

"--- I think they're just ganging up on him (Mitt) to knock him out of the race. ---"

I'd agree with that for the most part. Mitt is set to do well, I'd say second behind McCain, who basically has this state of libertarians and more centrist Republicans on lockdown. If McCain does anything less than 30% of the vote, I'll really be surprised.

By knocking down Mitt, it strengthens McCain naturally, but also has a knock-on effect for Huckabee and Paul.

That could be a risk, considering that Fred will be contending against Huckabee from a 10pt. trail... so for Fred's benefit, a McCain-30% Romney-20% Paul-15% Huckabee 12~15% might be best.

It is important for Fred that Huckabee suffer losses before SC, because he is the greatest threat, able to galvanize the religious crowds down there.

A defeat for Fred to Huckabee in SC would probably be crippling.

[seekeronos]

As the token FredHead here on an otherwise pro-Mitt forum (I'm only waiting for Dan to slap the Mitt widget on the right side margin, or out-and-out endorse him)...

...I'll say that Fred was head and shoulders above the fray, the adult bull elephant in the room punctuating the discourse with the aplomb and demeanor of an elder statesman.

Willard did get a bit testy under fire, although not nearly as catty as McCain.

Rudy was almost a non-entity, parroting up his self-perceived status as the "God of September 11th", and not really adding anything beyond that of substance, in my opinion. He did get slapped down by Fred handily on his sancutary city "exceptions"...

Ron Paul was as nutty as bag of peanuts, and Huckabee tried to run a more secular game, though he took the gloves off rather ineptly with his swipes at Romney.

My rankings:

Fred - Winner
Mitt - 2nd

The others were not on their best game tonight.

[Roy Mustang]

Everyone was piling on Romney and for the most part he handled himself well. I think they're just ganging up on him to knock him out of the race.

In any case, McCain's "change" one-liner will get a lot play. Why won't you Romnites admit he got burned pretty badly on that one? It was pretty funny.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/CampaignStandard/2008/01/hayes_republican_debate.asp

[Jim M]

McCain barely participated and when he did, it was just to take cheap shots at Romney and to Romney's credit, he didn't take the bait. Especially the "change" comment from McCain. I was surprised (though why should I be) that the MSM claims that Romney got beaten up, that it wasn't a good night for him, etc. I couldn't disagree more. He showed leadership and focus and wasn't afraid to mix it up with his opponents on stage. Huckabee sounds great while saying nothing of substance. Ron Paul needs to STFU and go home. Fred Thompson was good, but his hangdog demeanor doesn't reflect the energy or passion that the next President of the United States is going to need. No comment on Rudy. Rudy is Rudy. Romney won the debate though, no question. And he's going to go all the way. I look forward to his leadership in the White House.

[NEWTZAPOOP]

Well, I was waiting for Hillary to pull out the little steel balls and start rolling them around in her hand when she went into Captain Queeg mode in the NH ABC debate Saturday night. When the question of change and healthcare came up, Senators Obama and Edwards calmly pushed all her buttons and she lit up like a fireworks display. That little segment of video watching her flash hot and angry must have made every flannel shirted fella watching in bars across New Hampshire wonder if a PMS-ing president, or their wives, should be any where near a nuclear code book, or if her menstral cycle should be classified for national security purposes. Harsh? Yes. But politics ain't bean bag and I some how couldn't help but picture Margaret Thatcher reacting much more evenly. Bad night for Hillary. My prediction as of today- Obama/Edwards vs. Guiliani/Huckabee. The hope vs. fear election. Any guesses on who wins? President Obama. Works for me.

[CheyennePress]

To all those who thought Huckabee scored a point on the surge, you need to look at what the guy actually said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLquRK7sNs0

As it turns out, our dear, trustworthy Mike Huckabee wasn't so sure about the surge in Iraq as he claimed to be--and at a time when both Romney and Giuliani supported it. This is par for the course for Huckabee. Just like he runs around talking about his tax cuts when he moved Arkansas from the 32nd to the 13th highest taxed state in the union by increasing tax burdens by 47%.

[Ben]

Mitt won hands down. McCain and Huckabee came across as petty and quite frankly had their attacks completely flattened by Mitt's responses. Good show. I'd rank it Mitt, Fred, Rudy, the two punks, and then Ron Paul.

[nj]

Bill C (posted Saturday, January 05, 2008 at 11:38 PM)

Romney already has recorded a win. He won Wyoming today (Saturday). Romney won 8 of 14 delegates from Wyoming (won by more the 50%). Romney's total delegate count is now 26. The other delegate count is as follows (after Iowa and Wyoming).

Romney 26
Huckabee 20
Thompson 5
McCain 3
Ron Paul 2
Hunter 1
Giuliani 1

Too bad Duncan Hunter was not invited to today's debate. It seems to me that he should have been since he has received delegates.

[gws]

I saw an agressive Romney tonight, something I've been hoping to see from him. This is NOT a guy who is going to back down. I have seen the Romney ads, HOW in the world do these other candidates characterize them as negative? Does showing a contrast between positions mean negative? I think not. Romney has not stooped to REAL personal attacks like Huckabee and McCain. The American people will see right through this and Romney will come out on top.

[Roy Mustang]

You tend to be angry after you've been shot down, nearly drown, bayoneted multiple times while being kicked, punched and spit upon by an angry mob. Now add 6 years of twice daily beatings where your bones and teeth are broken and you have angry Lt. John McCain.

[Joe]

To me, the only issue that really differentiates them all is immigration. McCain and Rudy want Amnesty. They won't use the word, but that's what they are proposing. Mitt busted McCain on his lie and the old man got cranky.....again.

It's either Mitt or Fred for me, but Fred needs to pep up. I'll never vote for McCain, and only vote for Guliani if Hillary is the Dem candidate.

[Liz]

What was with those folks, I saw some serious jealousy, animosity, who-knows-what toward Mr. Romney who seemed like the most intellectually organized, mild-mannered decent guy on stage. I hope he somehow defies the odds and prevails, I would take great comfort in having a President like that. McCain seemed like a mean crazy old coot if you'll excuse me, and Huckabee was spinning off into KUMBAYA outerspace as usual. Thompson pleasantly impacted me some. I totally forgot about RUdy and was shocked to see him there.

[Roy Mustang]

Common sense will tell you that you do not win a state-wide election in the Land of Kennedy and Dukakis by being a pro-life, economic conservative Republican.

You win by being a pro-choice, universal health care loving, Reagan hating liberal Republican.

It looks like Romney hasn't changed his stance on one issue. He still loves mandated universal health care.

[Randall]

Romney came across as a policy-wonk milque-toast who couldn't take a hit. Not the mettle of national leadership.

What about Rudy? Granted he's not seriously competing in NH, but he consistently comes across as authoritative, self-contained, well-briefed, and inspiring. Tonight I saw him head and shoulders above the rest.

[Fletch]

I'll tell ya, people... there is a reason why everyone was ganging up on Romney. Do you think they did so just because they felt like it? Not on your life. He is, all politics aside, the only candidate with any kind of record of success in every aspect of his life. There is not a single area where he hasn't excelled in, far beyond the nearly anyone of his generation. They are terrified that people will see this.

Sadly, people will label him as a flip-flopper without investigating his record and discovering for themselves that he governed Massachusetts as he had his corporations, the olympics and his family, with conservative principles and overwhelming success.

It's too bad that one of the greatest individuals of his generation is being pounded on from every angle simply because of his faith. Bigotry is alive and well in America and thinly veiled behind the mask of politics.

[Wendy]

What besides the life issue has Romney changed on? Now don't just tell me what you think. Go and look it up on a non-bias site and then report back. That is your homework.

I think Romney has been more vocal about his support for certain issues because that what all politicians who talk issues do. Look how much Huckabee and McCain have moved on issues throughout this year. Mitt Romney has been "labled" and wrongly so. He changed his mind once and he has explained that in detail multiple times. The press are having a hay day with it. It is ethically wrong that they do. So go and do your homework and don't be a "media clone" on this topic any more.

[Andrew]

Romney and Paul won the debate. Paul should run as Romney's VP. All of the other candidates are scared of Romney because he is in this to really turn our country around. Romney can audit Washington and Paul can trash the IRS and restore our freedoms.

[Jeff]

Well, Mitt's got that one win, Bill C (Is that Clinton by any chance? haha). He won Wyoming tonight and picked up 8 more delegates. Fred got 3 and Duncan Hunter 1 delegate. Wyoming has more delegates then New Hampshire 14-12. Two more delegates from Wyoming will be assigned later.

Congrats Mitt!!! Keep it going!

[Rocko]

Childish personal attacks were coming at Mitt Romney from every direction, but instead of demeaning himself to other candidates' lowly level, Governor Romney deflected attacks with substantive discussion on issues people care about. Romney was eloquent on how to move forward in the global war on terror, he was sharp and logical when explaining his healthcare plans, and he convincingly showcased his devastating blow in a potential Mitt vs. Obama matchup - one focused on experience. A Mitt vs. Obama matchup would pit two Washington outsiders against each other - both focused on CHANGE. But while the theme is the same, their records are different. Obama TALKS about turning things around, but Mitt has actually done it - many times. While at Bain he turned around businesses, as CEO of the Olympics, he executed a spectacular turnaround of the scandal-ridden games, and as Governor of Mass, he turned around a state government on the brink of financial disaster. Mitt will thrash Obama once voters start looking past the rock-star nonsense and begin evaluating substance, experience, and issues.

[Roy Mustang]

Personal insult? Hardly. Romney walked right into it. It would be criminal not to zing him.

Romney: CHANGE! CHANGE! CHANGE! Like Obama, I'm the candaite of CHANGE!

McCain: Yes. Yes, you are.

[Bill C]

Romney needs a win before super tuesday and it is looking less and less likely. If he can't do better than he has with all the money he has spent it will be time for him to step aside and give Fred a shot and rallying the Reagan coalition against the Huckster and Rudy.

[A conservative]

I agree that it was Romney's night (and every other candidate who kept firing at him knew it).

I personally started the debate wanting to like Huckabee. His personal insult at Romney ("which one?") was unbecoming and his idea to give a car company $1 billion to invent a 100 MPG car was truly loony. McCain's personal insults (while chastising Romney for running comparison ads) were bothersome.

[Math_Mage]

Why so dismissive of Thompson? Beat McCain (by a bit) in Iowa to take third (it'd be second if Iowa didn't have such a strong evangelical vote, which nearly doubled Huckabee's total), second in Wyoming, a strong performance tonight, and Thompson gains strength as other candidates pull out because he's everyone's second choice for some reason. Plus he has a base in South Carolina. And the Politico posts have been firmly debunked - he's not resigned and he's not considering pulling out. Don't put him out of mind so easily.

[rwb82]

Romney won?

When you draw angry fire from every Republic candidate throughout a debate, you lose. Across the nation, people will have disagreements about what direction our nation should go in. But one thing no one likes is to be deceived. McCain, Thompson, Huckabee, Guiliani and Paul all felt that Romney was deceiving the public. Even if you think they are all wrong on certain issues, its hard to make and argument that they are collectively wrong about Romney's authenticity.

With all due respect, the simple fact that you believe Romney will go head-to-head with Guiliani even if he loses NH shows that you are not maintaining a unbiased eye.

[reliapundit]

"I think Romney was the clear winner in tonight's debate. McCain's well-known temperament problems lingered barely below the surface much of the evening, especially when someone dared disagree with him."

i agree.

[Capitalist Infidel]

I agree, Romney was absolutely hammered! I was even feeling a bit embarrassed for him. Thompson did the best but like Dan said he wouldn't really go after McCain.

[TheSpartan]

I watched and don't fully agree. It's clear paul and Huck were wayyyyy out of their depth, I thought Romney got smacked around a bit with some clips that will receive some airplay. McCain's comment about Romney being a candidate for change was pretty funny. Fred was dry as a desert, not engaged or engaging.