Mitt Romney - Mitt Romney did what he needed to do in this debate. He looked good. He spoke well. He seemed to have a good grasp of the issues. He didn't do as good a job highlighting his executive experience, but he came across as smart and competent.
Mike Huckabee - Mike Huckabee seemed the most comfortable of the "hard" religious conservative candidates. He came across as confident and spoke well. If anyone is paying attention, he'll get the biggest bounce in the "second tier" of candidates. His answer on global warming bothered me a great deal.
John McCain - John McCain looked funny in the way he gestured, but he helped his cause by showing the people that he is still alive. His comment about following bin Laden to the "Gates of Hell" helped him. His answering the "Democrat in the cabinet" question by mentioning a businessman rather than a moonbat politician will help him.
Jim Gilmore - I thought Jim Gilmore came across as the most qualified man to be president. I think he'd do the best job. His nuanced position on abortion doesn't bother me, but he'll lose huge pro-life support because of that answer. The debate does help him tremendously because he was an unknown and his presence on the stage gives him credibility.
Tommy Thompson - Tommy Thompson came across as a great conservative politician, but he also came across as someone who is a little too old and a little too "nerdy" to be strong on the campaign trail.
Duncan Hunter - Duncan Hunter is a great candidate, and the debate helps him by giving him the credibility of sharing the same stage as the "top tier" candidates. He knows a great deal and is unique in his military experience and willingness to confront trade issues. His global warming answer won't play well with conservatives. The best thing that the debate could have done for him would have been showing that he is far and above better than Mr. Tancredo on the issues where they hold views in common. If he could have shown that difference and taken the Tancredo supporters, he would have gotten the most from the debate.
Tom Tancredo - Tom Tancredo did well on a few points, but he needed to show some reason why Duncan Hunter supporters should abandon Mr. Hunter. He held his own support, but he didn't gain anything.
Rudy Giuliani - Rudy Giuliani didn't do too badly, but he didn't look presidential. Ambivalence about whether Roe versus Wade should be overturned won't help him. He ducked things on abortion, and his ducking won't help him. He looked good knowing the difference between Shia and Sunni. He looked okay on a few other points, but he didn't come across as being stronger than any other candidate on any issue.
Sam Brownback - Sam Brownback didn't do badly, but he came across as being the least of the "hard" religious conservatives.
Ron Paul - Ron Paul is a good man, but he's wrong about the war against Muslim jihadist terrorists. His statements will knock him out of any chance that he would have had.
Bill
“John McCain looked funny in the way he gestured”
That ‘funny’ would be because he can’t move his arms very well becuase of torture he suffered in Viet Nam.
Duncan Hunter’s global warming answer didn’t bother me, because he turned it into an answer calling for energy independence. Given his past support for drilling in ANWR, offshore drilling, and nuclear power, that made me happy.