Posted on 01/17/2012 8:30:55 AM PST by Rennes Templar
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Republican candidates were returning to the campaign trail Tuesday slightly bruised but unbowed after a raucous debate that left Mitt Romney fielding attacks from the get-go and all five candidates earning wild reception from a fired-up audience that will be casting votes alongside fellow South Carolinians on Saturday. Romney was put on defense out of the box at the Fox News/Wall Street Journal/South Carolina GOP debate -- answering questions about his record at private venture firm, Bain Capital; distancing himself from super PAC ads against fellow candidates; defending his record as Massachusetts governor, and dodging demands that he release his tax records.
But Romney held his ground against the onslaught, saying he is proud of his record in business and as governor. "We were fortunate to have an unemployment rate by the time I left office of 4.7 percent. Sounds pretty good today," Romney said of his one-term leading Massachusetts. "And I was also proud of the fact that we balanced the budget every year I was in office. We reduced taxes 19 times, put in place a rainy day fund of over $2 billion by the time I left."
Still, with his rivals running out of time to make the case they are a viable and "conservative" alternative to the front-runner, the attacks were fast and furious. Rick Perry accused Bain of sweeping into Georgetown, S.C., and closing a steel mill. "They picked that company over, and a lot of people lost jobs there," Perry said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
After Romney offered to wage a $10,000 bet with Perry, the establishment knives started to emerge for awhile. For example, Jeb Bush made some noises about his own prospects. Another such incident could cause this to happen again. If that happens, all the establishment minions could quickly change their tune. They would want to coalesce behind one of their own, however. Newt needs to deliver a couple of knockout punches on Thursday evening.
Romney stammered. Gave canned responses. He really was milk toast in the so-called debate. Any notion that guy is the clear leader and this is over is plain stupid!
Gingrich was the clear winner. Perry was second. Santorum just seems odd to me. I was waiting for Ron Paul to pour gasoline on himself and set himself ablaze. Paul needs to be running one of those ice cream trucks where the guy hangs out the side and sells Popsicles. He is qualified to pull the string and ring the bell...
I watched Fox this AM (haven’t watched in many months). The show was devoted to advising Mitt how to overcome this debate and the “attacks” on him, what his strategy and response should be. It was crazy. Gretchen, in particular, left no secret who she is pulling for!
just saw Greg Jarrett on FOX and AB Stoddard . . .all they were missing were their pom poms cheerleading for Mitt. Ugh.
Anyone know who is moderating the CNN debate on Thursday?
The Republican National Media Establishment (RNME)
is in the tank for the IAG-, TARP-, VAT-,
and SHARIA-supporting and RomneyCARE/ObamaCARE-inventing
Myth Romney.
Like RINO Romney, RNME is FOR further corrosion
of the US Constitution.
Romney turns me off because apparently, he does not respect the rules and then says he can do anything he wants to.
I like Gingrich because when he feels like being a prick it’s because he has to. Romney, on the other hand, seems more like a spoiled prick. There’s a big difference between the two.
I want my President to be a prick when he has to and I want him to be be angry because I’m angry and it’s not as though there’s nothing to be angry about.
If you’re not angry and upset with the current state of the union you’re either on some kind of prescription drug(s) or just a flaming lib or RINO.
My wife said Perry, during the debate, should walk over and slap the hell out of Romney.
Hahah...maybe later.
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