It remains to be seen whether the national media agrees with this assessment of ABC's Republican presidential debate, which is in its closing moments as this is being written.
The debate's big winners were Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
McCain, using his trademark humor, was able to fluster his chief opponent in New Hampshire, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, several times. Each time, McCain hit Romney with one of his good-natured, but effective, barbs, Romney whined about "personal attacks."
I would have to believe that anyone who has watched Romney's campaign unfold, with increasing negativity, especially toward McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, has to chuckle at Romney's audacity in claiming the mantle of victim.
In one answer, Romney, adapting the latest buzzword in national politics, "change," claimed he was the change agent because of his track record of changing the performances of various companies, taking control of the Salt Lake City Olympics, and his track record as governor of Massachusetts.
McCain, spotting an opening, said he totally agreed with Romney's self-assessment as a "candidate of change."
Instead of just chuckling and letting McCain get his laugh, which would probably have been the wisest course, Romney, clearly upset, moaned about the "personal attack."
In another exchange, over the power of the pharmaceutical industry, McCain characterized the industry as a villain in the high cost of health care in the United States, while Romney, a big recipient of cash from that sector, offered a limp defense of it.
Giuliani, seeing his strategy of ignoring the opening states for Florida and the big states coming up on Feb. 5, needed a strong performance and gave one. McCain, Giuliani, and to a lesser extent, Huckabee, were able to convincingly explain their stances on immigration fairly convincingly, with Romney staking out the "send them all back" ground, and the others taking the position of deporting criminals and requiring others who wish to remain in the United States to move to the back of the line for citizenship and pay penalties. All six candidates agreed on the need for securing our borders. Giuliani noted that former President Ronald Reagan, the person whose name is most often cited as a positive example by Republican candidates, gave full amnesty to illegal immigrants in the 1980s, something none of the current candidates has suggested. Giuliani also spoke forcefully and convincingly on defense issues.
Fred Thompson came across as well-prepared and relaxed, but almost seemed like a spectator.
Huckabee hit a home run on one of the final questions of the debate, how each candidate would fare against Barack Obama in the general election. Huckabee was able to insert one of his chief selling points, the idea of campaigns not being about right and left, but moving the country upward.
It is hard to characterize Rep. Ron Paul's performance. His anti-war stance seems more in line with the Democratic party than Republicans, but he did not particularly express his stance well. That being said, that probably won't make a bit of difference to his supporters who back their man all the way.
Video clips have already been posted on the ABC News website.
6 comments:
Romney's so called negative ads have all dealt with policy issues such as Huckabee and McCain both favoring tax increases and both being soft on illegal immigration. None of Romey’s ads have ever attacked his opponents personally, their integrity or honesty. These remarks tonight about Romney were personal and therefore do meet the definition of negative campaigning, something Romney has not done. The fact that those taking the low road attacked someone who has not done that is the height of hypocrisy, the news tonight is that Romney won the Wyoming caucuses and thus far leads the nation in delegates.
I believe Romney is a sore loser and in some ways reminds me of Hillary Clinton when we whines poor me, they are attacking me personally. He and this prior blogger are wrong to say that he attacks a record, which HE self subscribes is ok, and the others attack personally. They are attacking his record when they say he flip-flops. Bottom line Mitt Romney is a savvy businessperson and no doubt a great politician that changes his positions when it best suits his political ambition. As he says, “just look at my record”. Yes, Mitt we have and you have misled many of your supporters to advance your political career. Huckabee has it right when asked what he thinks about Mitt attacking him Huckabee says, “If you cannot stand the sight of your own blood, then stay out of politics. This game is for the big boys”. Frankly, I do not want Mitt the flip flopper leading our country. I want someone who speaks truth. Look at it this way. Would you want to be married to a person who told you what you wanted to “hear” before you married them and then after you were married they change their position on major issues that have a huge impact on your life? I think not. You know there is not one person who you will ever agree with totally but if you find someone that shares your core values and has a record of accomplishment supported by honesty, embrace his leadership because he will be a leader we can trust.
I hardly feel Huckabee is soft on illegal immigration. He, as well as I, believe in no amnesty. Send them all back to wait their turn like everybody else. And he is not for a tax increase. He wants to eliminate the IRS and make a FAIR tax. Everybody pays the same with a national sales tax, and your earnings remain in YOUR paycheck.
Huckabee tried to make Arkansas a sanctuary state! You may hardly believe it but that just means you have been deceived about his immigration stand. Huckabee has always been for letting them stay and has never been for sending them back. By the way Romney is not a sore loser, he isn't a loser at all, he was second in Iowa, first in Wyoming and will be second or first in New Hampshire. He will be the only candidate in the Republican Party that has won a state and finished in the top two in every state and will leave New Hampshire with more votes and delegates nationally than anyone else. The media wants to knock Romney out because they believe he is the only Republican that can win in November. No matter what the spin doctors say Romney will emerge from New Hampshire with more votes in all three states, more delegates and as many wins as any Republican. The facts, just the facts.
I liked Huckabee when I first heard him but the more I find out about his history I realize he's been playing to what we republicans want to hear since he was first elected as governor, like when he helped pardon the rapist of a Clinton family member, who then went on to murder 2 women. Huckabee did it just to look good for some repulicans who said the Clinton admin. framed the man.(he distances himself from this scandle but 2 porole board members say he pressured them) And in an earlier debate when asked about space funding said the first thing he would do is send Hillary up on a rocket, obviously playing to the crowd again.
McCain I think would do well except for keeping troops in Iraq for "100, 1000, or 1,000,000 years", which isn't that unrealistic since we still have troops in Korea.
I think Ron Paul is right on when he talks about how our dollar is shrinking and we can't afford to police the world anymore.
Romney performed horribly, period.
If a man can't take personal hits, he is not the right man for the job of president of the united states. Huckabee, Gulianni, and McCain performed the best with Gulianni in front.
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