Ann, this simply is not a fact. Both Gingrich and Santorum have been better, deeper, more passionate, and more believable than has Romney. And if Bachmann would quit reminding us of her international lawyer with 23 kids opposing obamacare, then she has given better answers, too.
Ann says this because she is a northeast conservative. Typically, they are fiscal conservatives that are also pro-defense. They lack the religious element in their conservatism and are not Pro-Life, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Family. If she was able to stand back and look there isn't a single Pub running who can't beat obama in a debate.
obama will make one emotional appeal after another and create strawmen in the process demonizing his opponent. The response to this is simple, "the facts tell a different story". What is the misery index? What is the unemployment rate? Why have your supporters received special treatment while the rest of the country has suffered?
Newt is clearly the best debater, but that also raises the bar for him in people's expectations. Perry has had the most criticism of his debating but he is everything we could hope for on the issues. I like Perry and that's who I'm giving money to. I think the importance of the debates is overblown and I think the "skill" our teleprompter in chief has debating is overblown as well.