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October 19, 2011
Debate Score: Perry For the Win
Debate Score: Perry For the Win
by Bryan Preston
There were two Ricks on debate stage tonight, and both came in loaded up and ready to hunt. Rick Santorum threw a blizzard of punches at Mitt Romney early over his claim that as president, Romney, the author of RomneyCare, would repeal ObamaCare. The punches landed and the damage showed on Romney’s face. Rick Perry came in loaded up to speak aggressively for his energy plan, and spoke with an energy and conviction that has not come through in previous debates. Romney came under the most intense fire he has faced in any of the 2011 debates and while he handled it well, the criticisms of his record are legitimate and will sting. Romney’s red face as he tried to to redirect the examination over to Newt Gingrich revealed that he knew the night wasn’t going well for him.
Herman Cain also faced the toughest questioning of any debate so far, regarding his 9-9-9 tax plan, and handled it mostly with his usual humor and wit. The former talk radio host can engage in an open debate with the best of them, but his lack of depth showed in spots. He didn’t seem to know the details of his 9-9-9 plan early on. Cain did do well when discussing his ideas for reforming health care: No mandates, but focus on market-based reforms like allowing purchase across state lines. Nothing new, but nothing wrong with any of it either.
Perry also hit Romney directly for “hypocrisy” for having hired illegal aliens. Romney laughed and denied, but the story has been out there since 2007 or thereabouts. Romney lost his cool, for the second time. Perry scored another direct hit, and Mitt turned red again. The ice man melted.
Perry also did well on the question of securing the border: It’s about a fence, plus other security measures including technology and boots on the ground. Bachmann got in a jab about the president’s illegal alien relatives who keep popping up in the news, before moving on to declare that she would build a fence along the entire border. There is actually less policy daylight between most of the candidates on the border than the stage arguments suggest, but the arguments drew out some personalities, and it’s hard to see Romney benefiting from the exchange.
Tonight’s was the most lively debate, and does have the potential to change the race a bit. Perry came to fight and from tax policy to spending to funding the UN, showed that his issue knowledge is broad. Romney wasn’t prepared to take hits from so many other candidates. Romney’s packed supporters in the audience and other blogs provided some soundtrack to back their man up but I doubt it did much good. Romney’s cool broke too many times for his own good. His whining about being talked over, when he isn’t shy about interrupting others, was entertaining but revealed a thin skin. Romney probably had his best moment during the religion debate, but that’s such tired ground now and Romney has so overreached on that issue that it’s unlikely to make any difference.
This was Perry’s best night. He took control when he needed to, threw the president’s and his competitors’ words against them at opportune moments, and showed a strong and knowledgeable presence going toe to toe with Romney. Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann also had good nights. Gingrich can speak brilliantly on any policy thrown at him. His brief closing statement showed that he is among the adults in the room. Santorum spoke very well on values. Cain and Romney took sustained fire and handled it unevenly. Cain was at his worst on the question of whether he would contemplate releasing terrorists held at Gitmo in exchange for an American hostage. There is simply no way to justify his answer to Wolf Blitzer, earlier today. Ron Paul was, infuriatingly, Ron Paul, capable of saying things at the edge of brilliance but coupling them with statements that make little sense or betray a hole in his moral thinking. While I admire his logical mind, I don’t admire some of the places it takes him.
The clear winner tonight was Rick Perry. He looked like a seasoned leader who has found his voice, at last. Newt Gingrich came in a strong second, Cain and Santorum follow him and Romney follows them. He was strong in spots but had trouble keeping his cool, an d had no good answers to explain his own policy history. Passion is one thing; all of the candidates brought that tonight. Edging close to revealing a Hulk moment is something else.
There was something else different about tonight’s debate. In past debates, Romney’s press team has easily outpaced all of the other campaigns combined in the number of press releases they sent out while the debate continued. Not so, tonight. The Perry press team must have rolled over the Romney team 8 to 1 or more. From the top on down, the Perry team is moving with a new energy.
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Wild Thing's comment........
This was Perry's best debate performance thus far. Coming in second I would have to say it was Newt. I have to give him credit for when he is good.
Romney got so ticked his face got red and he almost stammered.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 19, 2011 12:55 AM
Comments
I missed the debates. I have only caught soundbites. They play up the Romney-Perry and Romney-Santorum verbal scuffles.
Posted by: TomR, armed in Texas at October 19, 2011 01:00 PM
This was from Pat Dollards site 45 replys.
Who Won The CNN Nevada GOP Debate? (Poll Closed)
Herman Cain 42.35%
Newt Gingrich 33.67%
Mitt Romney 12.24%
Rick Perry 5.61%
Michele Bachmann 3.57%
Rick Santorum 2.55%
Posted by: Gator at October 19, 2011 07:07 PM
Perry should have gone down Mitt Romney's through when he tried that little dominance game move on him. What is that business of coming over and grabbing Perry's shoulder, straight out of "Power and how to Get It" book?
Living up in New England I have seen these little dominance games played by Ivey League frat boys at times when they cannot be addressed with the appropriate "move it or lose it."
I find a loud "Sir that is very rude! Now move it!" is usually good for ending such games but that Romney would try them is a complete disqualification for the Presidency. I thought that we were looking at another Richard Nixon in Romney; we are looking at another Lyndon Baines Johnson with his dirty little maneuvers to assert physical dominance.
Posted by: Avitar at October 19, 2011 08:48 PM
Perry should have gone down Mitt Romney's throat when he tried that little dominance game move on him. What is that business of coming over and grabbing Perry's shoulder, straight out of "Power and how to Get It" book?
Living up in New England I have seen these little dominance games played by Ivey League frat boys at times when they cannot be addressed with the appropriate "move it or lose it."
I find a loud "Sir that is very rude! Now move it!" is usually good for ending such games but that Romney would try them is a complete disqualification for the Presidency. I thought that we were looking at another Richard Nixon in Romney; we are looking at another Lyndon Baines Johnson with his dirty little maneuvers to assert physical dominance.
Obviously I'm angry but I also just had surgery in my right eye so please forgive the rough shape of this post.
Posted by: Avitar at October 19, 2011 08:53 PM
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Posted by: Elijah at October 20, 2011 02:09 AM
