well I’ve already stated my point in posts 11 and 19 but happy to add more. You may agree or may not. Everyone has their own take on these things.
There is this idea floating around Free Republic that Newt is our savior because he will destroy Obama in debates. It will never happen. Debates don’t decide elections unless there are major gaffes. As long as Obama avoids gaffes the debates mean little as far as deciding the election. Likability is far more important than debating skills to many people. Newt has major problems in that area.
No argument. However, based on cause and effect (possibly just coincidence) Gingrich's poll numbers seem to have increased since the start of the Republican debates. The same might hold true in Presidential debates. I seem to remember the Nixon / Kennedy debate was devastating for Nixon.