Posted on 01/31/2008 4:13:00 AM PST by Reaganesque
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kevin Madden (857) 288-6390
Fox News' Frank Luntz: FOX NEWS' FRANK LUNTZ: "First off, who won the debate tonight? I always begin that way." VOTER: "Romney." LUNTZ: "Who says John McCain won the debate tonight raise your hands, 3, only 4 of you. Who says Mitt Romney, about half of you." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 1/30/08)
Watch The Luntz Post-Debate Focus Group: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZOSDnNoQyg
National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez: "He hit back and defending his honor and truth on Iraq. I don't think most Americans get "timetables was a buzzword." I think they get that neither of these guys are Harry Reid. The sum of it is oddly, unnecessarily, McCain came off badly during an Iraq round." (Kathryn Jean Lopez, "Is Romney Reading the Corner?" National Review's The Corner Blog, http://corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 1/30/08)
- Lopez: "I think Romney came off effective and competent." (Kathryn Jean Lopez, "Weird, Irritating Debate," National Review's The Corner Blog, http://corner.nationalreview.com/=, Posted 1/30/08)
Townhall's Mary Katharine Ham: "Mitt Romney is exactly right on letting states take the lead on global warming and emissions standards if they want to tighten them, but he does the work McCain wouldn't do by pointing out that those actions have consequences in higher costs and lost jobs. When he talks these issues, he is smart and right." (Mary Katharine Ham, "Global Warming Mania!" Townhall Blog, www.townhall.com, Posted 1/30/08)
Captain's Quarters' Ed Morrissey: "Mitt Romney won this debate. He looked crisp, sharp, had facts at his command, and exuded confidence." (Ed Morrissey, "Live Blog And Wrap Up," Captain's Quarters' Blog, http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/, Posted 1/30/08)
CNN's Bill Schneider: "A couple of Romney's answers were quite good, particularly on the Iraq timetables issue." (Bill Schneider, "The Night's Big Winner: Huckabee," CNN's Political Ticker Blog, http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, Posted 1/30/08)
- Schneider: "Romney's giving a pretty interesting conservative explanation of a health care plan that otherwise makes conservatives nervous. As he explains, it forces people to pay their own way - which they get." (Bill Schneider, "Romney Makes A Sale On Health Care," CNN's Political Ticker, http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, Posted 1/30/08)
- Schneider: "Romney's giving a full-throated rebuttal to McCain's charge that he proposed a timetable on Iraq withdrawal and he's right. That was a strong answer." (Bill Schneider, "Romney Calls McCain Out," CNN's Political Ticker, http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com, Posted 1/30/08)
National Review's Mark Hemingway: "I think I can say that Romney was the clear winner in the debate." (Mark Hemingway, "For the First Time," National Review's The Corner Blog, http://corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 1/30/08)
- Hemingway: "[Gov. Romney] showed an admirable fighting spirit." (Mark Hemingway, "For the First Time," National Review's The Corner Blog, http://corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 1/30/08)
- Hemingway: "Romney kept his head about him and remained gracious even as a number of his charges against McCain stuck." (Mark Hemingway, "For the First Time," National Review's The Corner Blog, http://corner.nationalreview.com, Posted 1/30/08)
The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder: "Applause from audience when Romney says Reagan would have found the dirty tricks reprehensible." (Marc Ambinder, "Debate Wire," Atlantic Online, http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/, Posted 1/30/08)
- Ambinder: "Romney gives a strong answer that weaves together his experience with his resume...notes that Abe Lincoln wasn't a military leader..." (Marc Ambinder, "Debate Wire," Atlantic Online, http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/, Posted 1/30/08)
Instapundit's Glenn Reynolds: "GOOD POINT BY ROMNEY about how McCain shouldn't 'demean' people who start businesses. McCain has been doing that a lot, acting as if meeting a payroll is somehow less honorable than working for the government." (Glenn Reynolds, "Good Point By Romney," Blog, http://instapundit.com/, Posted 1/30/08)
Mitt won the debate hands down. McCain came off as childish. Not ready for prime time. He reminded me of John Kerry, continually answering questions that pertained nothing to his military experience with his military experience. It’s all he has. I respect it, but he has nothing else.
Anyone who thinks McCain won the debate can’t see the forest through the trees.
Romney did a great job at exposing McCain for the cheesy little politician he is.
I only hope it’s not too late.
But is it too little too late?
I agree, Mitt ate McLame for lunch. But, I believe it’s too late for Romney. McLame has been crowned the ‘chosen’ candidate. And, if GOP voters are that ignorant, I will be changing my registration to Independent. After 40 years, I no longer want to be a part of the sheeple party.
Huck won the debate. He sounded like Fred...a real conservative
Article out today says Romney not buying any Ads for Super Tuesday states.
Let me explain why I make that ridiculous statement.
I did not listen to the debate, I did not follow an FR discussion of the debate, and I did not listen to any conservative radio talk show discuss the debate.
I only know of the debate from what has been reported of it, on the top of the hour broadcast radio news, ABC I think.
They have a sound bite or two of McCain protesting Romney's support for a timetable for withdrawal, and a statement (not in Romney's voice) that Romney disagreed with this.
From that, I hear that McCain is supporting our troops and winning this war, and that Romney apparently likes to quibble. And from that I hear the familiar voice of McCain.
Point, set, match -- McCain.
But far more voters will hear those lies than actually listened to the debate.Yeah - I know - leftist lies ;)
Update -- the latest version of this news -- they didn't even give the Romney quibbling side -- just quoted McCain strongly supporting the troops and referencing his depth of experience, before going on to state something about Romney barely leading the polls in only four of xxx states.
bump
I’m pretty tired of the selection of candidates being pared down before 90% of American have their say in the matter.
It really really sucks.
Romney - going with the army we have.
“Huck won the debate. He sounded like Fred...a real conservative”
Ahh...you may think he sounded like a real conservative but The Huckster is NO conservative.
the MSM template is out.
“Romney did not score a knockout”
all the annnoying robo-calls in the world will not make up for the oxygen that the MSM will deny Romney.
i believe he hasn’t yet made any buys. perhaps he wanted to see the lay of the land after Florida/last night’s debate. plus is there going to be anything but SuperBowl between now and Sunday?
McLame is not the right guy at the right time. He’s a DhimmiRat in RINO clothing.
As a veteran, I respect his military service. But, I’m sick to death of hearing about his POW status. Granted, it was a bad time. Granted, it shaped him in ways untold. But, what direct connection does it have to this campaign, this debate, this discussion?
The simple fact is that he is much more to the left than the right on many issues of concern. Despite his statements to the contrary, he still doesn’t ‘get it’ on criminal immigrants and shamnesty.
Mitt’s not the perfect candidate, by a long shot. However, he’s a better choice than the Huckster.
I miss Hunter and Thompson...
National nanny state and subsidized college educations for illegal aliens. What a guy!
Socialism isn’t so bad if you swallow it with a huge cup of evangelicalism I hear.
“the MSM template is out.”
So true. Frank Luntz is quoted in this article as saying half the focus group said Romney won and 3 or 4 thought McCain did. This morning on Fox he said no one won. I thought that’s why they had focus groups, so they get to decide. The fix has been in for a long time.
I’m afraid it is too late.
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