The CNN/WMUR debateon Monday was full of moments that made me sit up and take notice of a field I view as a lot stronger than other pundits have stated.
The results of the second debate were a mixed bag. A few candidates were impressive, a few disappointing, and the moderator was down right dreadful.
Results:
1) Governor Mitt Romney - While he has experienced great pain in media over the past two weeks he showed that he isn't going through the Sophomore Slump. Romney conducted himself well during the debate and is still playing keep away from his field of challengers. Those watching the debate were expecting challengers to go after the front-runner but all of them backed away. Instead of making Mitt discuss his policy on healthcare they all let him handle it. He came in the leader of the pack and no one did anything to stop him. Thus Romney for staying on top and gaffe free wins the second debate.
2) Rep. Michele Bachmann - In her first ever presidential debate I was completely taken aback by the composure and posture of Bachmann. She has fully stepped out of the shadow of former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin and has become her own candidate. My only concerns from Bachmann at the debate were she used a couple of applause lines from her Tea Party days at a formal debate, and she announced her candidacy during a round of questions. Other than these two flaws in decorum for debating she has fully emerged as a serious and viable candidate.
3) Speaker Newt Gingrich - After suffering horrible setbacks in terms of his staff and his confusing campaign scheduling Newt came out firing. He was in rare 1980-1990 form as he took on the debate format, moderator, and how he answered forcefully and with conviction. He showed the disdain for how government operates that made him so popularly within the GOP. After what seemed to be a week in which Newt's campaign had fallen apart just as everyone predicted the veteran of the Clinton Era showed why you can never count the old dog out.
4) Herman Cain - The Atlanta businessman falls to the fourth slot after unarguably winning the first debate. Cain struggled to break out of the middle as the candidates above him had more buzz surrounding them. He did not present lines or analogies that would resonate with voters. After the train and caboose analogy he seemed to fall into a game that isn't his. He played the role of politician after the initial round which is where he is out of his element. His comments on Muslims and an opportunity for cabinet positions has hurt him as well.
5) Sen. Rick Santorum - Santorum bounced back to make a stronger performance than his first debate appearance. He stayed composed and took control of debate topics when posed to the entire floor of candidates. Extra face time like that can resonate with voters. He continues to make strides as a national candidate and could be a force in Iowa with his strong pro-family values. He hasn't been generating enough press but he can make some noise after this event.
6) Gov. Tim Pawlenty - My initial selection to be the candidate of the Republican Party was underwhelming at his second debate performance. He is not garnering attention, and has backed off his tough talk about Mitt Romney's healthcare legislation on the national debate scale. After coining the term "ObamneyCare" on a Sunday talk show he instantly backed away from the term and his attacks on Romney at the debate. If an opponent has screwed up in your eyes you have to go for him. Especially the front-runner. Pawlenty dropped the ball and has fallen to the sixth spot.
7) Rep. Ron Paul - Now before everyone attacks my comment section with generic Ron Paul quotes and defenses read what I am about to say. He was not performing at the same level as he did in the first debate. He also fell back on crutch words like "umm" and "uhh" and several points during the debate. He did not appear to be adequately prepared. His delivery was flawed which is an important part of publicized debates. You must be able to present yourself as well as your ideas. Not too mention very few questions posed by members of the audience were directed at Paul which may be a bad thing in New Hampshire.
8) Mainstream Republicans - When a member of the audience posed a question about how the candidates would work with the regular everyday people who make up the Republican Party and not just the vocal fractions of it everyone posed this question offered defenses of the Tea Party and did not answer the question. These candidates are running for the Republican nomination and it is about coalition building within the party. Finding a common ground between factions. This answer is what stunned and upset me the most during the CNN/WMUR debate.
9) John King/CNN - This debate was moderated horribly. John King has to make up his mind if he will be a tough moderator and cut the candidate off or let them finish the question. He constantly said "ok" during candidates answers hoping to cut them off but it just bothered the listener. CNN also had the Twitter page going and did not use it as well as I had hoped. Viewers posed questions but very rarely was it used. CNN needs to find a new moderator and if it is going to showcase all of its technological aspects it must use them.
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