I watched the Republicans debate last night in New Hampshire. Some quick impressions:
One minute for an answer isn't really long enough to give a full, nuanced, presidential answer.
Mike Huckabee has a good sense of humor.
I thought his go-round with Ron Paul on the war in Iraq, however, smacked of trying to wipe Rudy Giuliani's anti-Paul playbook from the debate back in June, when the Mayor did a smackdown on Paul. It's been done, Mike.
I suspect some liberal, antiwar Democrats packed the hall, which explains the loud applause for Ron Paul's get-out-of-Iraq comments.
John McCain did well, speaking succinctly, on point, at times eloquently. Clearly the shots he took at his rivals--at Romney concerning the surge, at Giuliani concerning his foreign policy experience--reflect the fact that McCain realizes he has to come from behind.
I thought Mayor Giuliani did fine, although it's hard to stand out every time when you're one of 9 on a stage. I think he's wise to cite his experience and accomplishments as Mayor of New York, and he does so effectively. I was surprised when Frank Luntz's voter focus group, highlighted on FoxNews' post-debate wrap-up, reacted so negatively to Rudy. It made me wonder what debate they were watching. I suspect most of them weren't Giuliani supporters, at all, to begin with. Other writers today have suggested this may have been a function of typical New Hampshire-ite anti-New York bias.
Mitt Romney hits hardest at McCain and at Giuliani. He knows who his main rivals are. I think his attacks on the mayor concerning immigration are weak, given that Romney did little concerning "sanctuary" cities when he was governor of Massachusetts.
Ron Paul doesn't sound like a libertarian on foreign policy. He sounds like a radical leftist, blaming the United States for most everything wrong anywhere.
UPDATE: In thinking about this, let's also remember all the fundamentals on which most candidates at last night's debate agreed: 1] They believe illegal immigration is a serious problem, upon which the government must act. It's about the rule of law. 2] Most support the war in Iraq, support the surge, and continue to advocate vigorous U.S. action in the war on terror. 3] Most candidates are hostile to new taxes; indeed, they favor continuing to seek to reduce taxes and regulation. 4] Most of the candidates are hostile to abortion rights, though there is some disagreement on exactly what the federal government could and should do about it.
Hovering over all of this is Fred Thompson. Welcome to the race, Fred; come on in, the water's fine!
