Saint Anselm Republican Debate Recap

Manchester, N.H.
The good news for everyone—candidates, voters, viewers, press—is that we get to do this all over again in 12 hours. Because that makes sense. So let’s go to the videotape.

Mitt Romney: Possibly his best debate. Thanks to the moderators, Romney bore almost no scrutiny on his problematic issues. And for all the talk about how tonight was going to be a Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bloodsport-style throwdown, the lower tier candidates mostly fought amongst themselves: Huntsman vs. Perry and Santorum on Afghanistan; Newt vs. Paul on “chickenhawk”; the moderators vs. Santorum on gay marriage.