People seemed a little sluggish when Newt started speaking, too, but he heated them up quick.
I think they were waiting to see if he still had the fire. I think as they listened to the specifics which they didn’t get from the other two they began to realize that he actually has a workable plan and knows how to implement it.
That whole “insider” meme that Romney tries to throw at Newt is bogus. On the one hand he says Newt was ousted by the establishment then tries to convince people that he’s part of the inside establishment. I think Newt is the perfect “outsider”. After the way the treated him in DC he owes no one anything but still has the experience and knowledge of how to get things done in DC. That’s why the “establishment” is scared to death of him.