I’m going to play the "who won the debate?" I don’t think anyone is going to win a forum with 10 candidates — although I did receive a press release from the Mitt Romney campaign at precisely 6:30 p.m. (the time the debate ended) declaring Mitt Romney the winner.
Rather, this is the candidates’ first opportunity to make a good impression on Republicans voters while side-by-side with their nomination rivals, and I think that’s how they were approaching it.
That’s said, I sat down to watch the debate not having endorsed any candidate. When the debate ended, I still hadn’t endorsed anyone. In fact, I fell asleep during the last 15 minutes – I was tired and it was a long program.
Speaking of the format: can we discard the "Interactive Round" segment next time? It injected the debate with a game show feel — I half-expected the candidates to ask Chris Matthews, "I’ll take tax cuts for $500, Chris." Plus, the e-mailed questions were often lame: "What don’t you like about America?"
I don’t think any of the first-tier candidates committed any fatal errors, but one could see the aspects of the candidate craft they need to work on. Mitt Romney often sounded — at least to me — like a someone eager to tell you about what he’d been learning at school, especially on foreign policy.
Rudy Giuliani acquitted himself well and came across as knowledgeable, seasoned and comfortable with who is, but he’s really got to work on his answer to abortion questions. Nuanced is one thing, but one can be so nuanced that voters are confused about what you actually stand for. That came into sharpest relief when Chris Matthews asked the candidates if overturning Roe v. Wade would be a good thing. Down the line the answers were enthusiastic variations on how wonderful that would be until Giuliani’s turn came:
"OK"? The overturning of what is, for good or evil, a landmark Supreme Court decision that has driven and divided American politics for 34 years and Giuliani’s judgment is that it would be "OK"?
I think Rudy realized his error, but then compounded it with a jumbled discourse when a clean exit would have been preferable.
I have to admit, my hostility toward John McCain’s candidacy, fueled primarily by my abhorrence of his McCain-Feingold law, was lessened by his willingness to point out the Administration’s mismanagement of the was and his unembarrassed determination to win. Iraq will by the next president’s number one priority and polls to the contrary, I think Americans will rally around with candidate with the credibility to present and campaign for plan to win there. Democrat Congresses may not mind losing wars, but Americans vastly prefer to win. I think McCain recognizes that and I admire that he doesn’t shrink from voicing his belief in victory.
Tommy Thompson impressed me as principled, thoughtful and as someone with a strong record as Governor on which to run. Intangible qualities matter in presidential races, and Thompson’s rumpled demeanor communicate inner strength and the quality of being tested.
Sen. Sam Brownback is the candidate I have been leaning most strongly toward. His stances on the issue dovetail most closely with my own, and after going on four years of Schwarzeneggerian philosophical phoniness, I am drawn to his authenticity. I think he had a good night, but I don’t think he made the kind of breakout impression a second-tier candidate need to make in order to advance to the first-tier.
Those are my first impressions at least. I’ll share some additional thoughts on the other candidates later.