Do you recall Mitt challenging Newt during an early debate about Newt's individual mandate being the blueprint for the MA health care mandate, which the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Cabal used for their health care bill?
Newt had to agree and then closed his mouth in defeat (not something he does easily).
Newt has been around so long on the national scene and done and said so many things, you can’t even quantify the amount of baggage he carries.
Then there is the Newt personae of “I’m by far the brightest and the most clever with words” and unbridled narcissim. Now it has evolved to “I’m already the nominee, get used to it” (close paraphrase).
Therefore, the debate will be about much more than debating skills. Romney proved that by pulling out the big nugget from Newt’s past that he supports an individual mandate. And they say Perry is tonguetied...in that moment Newt eclipsed Perry in shutdown mode.
How does it feel, Republican Conservatives, to have Newt declare Newt the winner without a single vote being cast??
The choice is coming full circle. Mitt with the backing of the Washington Republican elite, the DC establishment or Rick Perry, the outside the beltway choice of the Republican Governors Association and guys like Bobby Jindal, Sam Brownback, Haley Barbour, Rick Scott and Nikki Haley.