The GOP debate just ended. I’ve turned off the TV; these views are solely my own. We are in a no-spin zone.
A few thoughts, but first, I’ve got to hand it to the GOP and Fox, for that matter. They know how to host a debate. Moderators threw some truly tough questions at the candidates. Often it was as simple as asking candidates to stand by a wildly outrageous statement they had previously made. But they didn’t have to do that. Moderators also encouraged hand to hand combat between the contenders, allowing (or forcing) the candidates to actively confront each other. It’s easy to criticize someone’s lack of national security credentials on the campaign trail–it’s a bit harder when he’s standing two podiums down. I wish Democratic debates were this fierce.
So who won? Well, these debates–and this, I’d say, was a debate–are never so cut and dry. Mike Huckabee scored some major points during his argument with Ron Paul (who garnered impressive applauses at times himself). Rudy Giuliani was decent. Mitt Romney seemed to be hit on all sides tonight–by the candidates and by the moderators. The others don’t require a mention. But I think it was John McCain who came the closest to winning if a winner must be declared. Whether it was the New Hampshire setting (a home field of sorts for him) or delusions that the surge was working, he performed strongly tonight. He looked too old but he didn’t sound too old. And he brought the house down several times.
Will this debate revive McCain’s corpse-like campaign? No, of course not. But if it indicates that McCain still has a chance in New Hampshire–and I think it does–than perhaps he still has a shot, though barely, at the Republican nomination. Everybody loves the comeback kid.
p.s. — Fred Thompson probably made the right call strategically by skipping this debate; there would have been far too much scrutiny and he’s going to need these next few weeks to try to define himself without being hampered by a potentially weak debate performance. But he looked like a coward–and a bit ridiculous, too, since everyone knows he’s running. He better ace his Leno appearance tonight.
Something to say?
