As much as the campaigns wanted to downplay the significance of last night’s debate, they knew a lot was on the line. One big screw up and their candidate could go down in a not-so-glorious ball of flames.
The good news is no one went down in a ball of flames. But no one rose from the ashes, either. Mitt Romney performed well, taking the fight to Rick Santorum early and often. Aside from some tense moments, the debate was altogether fairly amiable. Romney landed some punches on Santorum, but didn’t leave out Obama, and had a few good moments talking about his vision for America.
In my rankings, I’d say Newt Gingrich came in second. This was the Gingrich we saw and loved a few months ago in the debates. He knocked the ball out of the park by turning a contraceptives question (asking if the candidates “believed in contraception,” whatever that means) on its head and used it to attack both Obama’s previous anti-life positions and votes, as well as to attack the media. However, Newt didn’t do so stellar in reviving his chances in the coming primaries.
Santorum didn’t hurt himself but also didn’t shine through as the obvious answer to not-Romney prayers as he was hit with various positions and votes he had in the past. He successfully defended himself on contraception (which is still somehow an issue) and Arlen Specter, but didn’t do so hot when it came to No Child Left Behind (so much so the campaign has removed a page affirming his support for the law) and his history of earmarks.
Ron Paul was likeable enough, except when he talked about foreign policy. I still refuse to acknowledge he has any shot at the GOP nomination.
That brings us to what this debate means for the future of the GOP race. In short, I saw the debate as Mitt Romney’s last stand to fight off a surging Rick Santorum – and he succeeded. Mitt didn’t grind Rick into dust, but he didn’t need to. He just needed to fight back and show he’s still in this. he did just that.
I expect a slight bump for Romney after all is said and done, then he cleans up in Michigan and Arizona and we move closer to Super Tuesday and a convention to nominate Romney as the GOP nominee.
