Perry, Romney Head Into Decisive Third Debate

Fox News ^ | September 22, 2011 | Chris Stirewalt

[yoe]

Dueling pitchers Rick Perry and Mitt Romney will face off tonight for the third time in three weeks in Republican presidential debates.

Perry won the first game by throwing plenty of heat and Romney prevailed the second time with finesse pitches and lots of help on offense from other players. Now, it’s time for the rubber game? As they head into the FOX News/Google debate ahead of the Republican Party of Florida’s straw poll, the stakes for Romney and Perry are huge.

Romney has seen his own support solidify following Perry’s blazing entrance to the race last month. But the former Massachusetts governor has to prove that it is more than just a political version of “cash for clunkers” in which people who were eventually going to back Romney anyway just moved up their decisions. As the milder of the two, Romney faces an enthusiasm gap with Perry. Romney has been trying to close the gap by dampening the ardor of Perry’s supporters by raising questions about the Texas governor’s electablity. But as Power Play often notes, the problem with running an electability campaign is that primary voters tend to resent candidates who make the opposing party’s arguments for them.

[yoe]

How many of us have written over the years asking our elected why they don't clean up government waste....it would save billions of dollars. Having faxed at least half a dozen letters about waste, I probably received some three or four 'form' letters over the last four years. I don't suppose Wallace or Baier will ask the really hard question addressing Government WASTE or reducing the size of the Bureaucratic morass that is strangling Washington, DC ......what would they (candidates) do to correct both situations. Hope beautiful Ms. Kelly can refrain from sounding like "just the facts 'mam" Joe Friday - aka Jack Webb......Education will not be helped with more money thrown at that Union: America has laws that prohibit illegal aliens from entering the country and from remaining here once "caught".....enforce those laws....I don't want to hear any politician weazle around that let alone Baier etc. ask questions about it - being here illegally is a crime; all should agree on that......NO OLD RHETORIC, MODERATORS. Perry and Romney are not the only contenders....just because the pundits etc. say so.

[skeeter]

Just a quick reminder - there’re more than two candidates in this race.

[Williams]

Decisive how?

[rockvillem]

Decisive how?

That was exactly my reaction too. Debates being held 13+ months before the general election and 10 months before the convention are "decisive"? Good grief.

[ez]

My prediction...Michele Bachmann puts away her long knives.

[ml/nj]

Decisive?

Am I the only one who thinks these "debates" are full of sound and fury signifying nothing?

ML/NJ

[Cicero]

In case this reporter didn’t notice, it’s still almost 14 months to the election. So, how on earth is this “third debate” between two establishment Republicans supposed to be “decisive”? Nothing will happen for the next year?

[cripplecreek]

McCotter announced he was dropping out just a little while ago.

The media is happily doing what they do and pushing Mitt Perry but the race doesn’t even begin till the primary votes start coming in.

[Lazlo in PA]

Bleh. It will be more of the same. Everyone gangs up on Perry, Ron Paul goes off the rails and Mittens stands there while everyone is afraid to muss up his hair. Obama will be barely mentioned. We will also have Chris Wallass being snarky and asking what brand of car tire the candidates prefer, Firestone or Uniroyal.

[Retired Greyhound]

I only hear to watch Newt bash the media.

[svcw]

How is this debate decisive?
Wouldn’t decisive come during primary season?

[Will88]

Perry, Romney Head Into Decisive Third Debate

Might be just a little premature with the first primary voting still more than four months off.

[tumblindice]

Well they seem to creep by in their petty pace and they’re moderated by idiots, that’s for sure.
And Romney and Perry are just walking shadows. I think you’re on to something.
McCain’s Ghost?

[gov_bean_ counter]

McCotter was in???

Who knew?

[MestaMachine]

“Am I the only one who thinks these “debates” are full of sound and fury signifying nothing?”

Short answer. NO
Lomg answer. HELL NO

[truthguy]

It's roughly 13 months to the election. I don't see where this is a decisive debate. What's with those in the press trying to decide these things so damn early. We shouldn't get serious about this until spring 2012. Am I wrong about this? We are gonna have election fatigue before summer 2012. Why the rush? Am I missing something?

[MestaMachine]

I don’t think so. At this point, it’s the only weapon she has. She has some very valid points she can make, but I don’tknow if she has the finesse to make them.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Nothing more that rock tossing contests...

May as well call them...

The Earnest T. Bass Political Round Table Discussions.

[MestaMachine]

Wow. He didn’t even last as long as pawlenty. He had some good talking points and policy papers though. If Bachmann had his acumen sans the union cozies, it would be a whole different ballgame tonight.

[normy]

Because it’s 5 months until the Iowa Caucus.