[nathanbedford]

The conventional wisdom expressed by the post debate pundits on both CNN and on Fox have it right: Newt did not win the debate, he was hurt tonight. Romney's cause was advanced.

Although Santorum performed remarkably well, any advance by Santorum in the vote count comes out of Gingrich's score. Therefore, a good debate by Santorum such as we saw tonight hurts Gingrich.

Romney did very well on theatrics and that is of vital importance in this context. Gingrich's argument is that he can out debate Obama and that means that he must be able to out debate both Santorum and Romney. A tie is a loss.

Finally, Gingrich went into the debate tonight requiring a turnaround performance and he did not deliver. He will lose momentum in Florida.

Full disclosure I am one of the earliest supporters of Gingrich on these threads. My observations are just that, reporting what I saw, not what I wish to have seen.

[gswilder]

I also thought Newt got hurt on the Moon Base proposal. Both Santorum, Paul and Romney got in good licks on him for that.

I would not vote for Paul. But he’d be fun to have at the family get togethers. And I do love his son Rand, and think he has a shot of rising higher in politics in years to come. That is one reason I don’t think Ron Paul will go 3rd party. Might hurt Rand’s chances down the road. Rand has a lot of his dad in him, but without the wacky foreign policy. I hope to see Rand running for president some day.

[jwalsh07]

Astute and honest analysis, my faith in FR is somewhat restored.

[glocker23]

Unfortunately (as someone supporting Gingrich) you are spot on in your analysis.

Newt did not have a remarkable night, Santorum was the best he ever been and that only hurts Newt.

Romney scored style points early in the debate on Newt during the immigration questions when the most viewers would be watching.

Personally I found a new level of disgust with Romney as the night went on and was very disappointed in a horribly moderated debate. Very frustrated that Newt was never able to get on issues for any length of time and there was no focus on the failures of Zero.

[Gator113]

I do not like what you said, but I am afraid I agree.

It is my ‘hope’ that the people of Florida will have seen how rigged this was against Newt and for the advancement of Romney.

I don’t feel good about any of this tonight, but there is tomorrow. ;>)

[roses of sharon]

Where is your evidence that Romney and the GOP can out-debate or out-campaign the DNC/MSM??

Sure, RINO’s along with the Republican press, and the liberal MSM/DNC can destroy any Conservative...they do it time and time again. No big accomplishment.

But to beat Obama/DNC/MSM/Academia/Fed/State Bureaucracies...no way, has never happened, will never happen.