Rich Lowry on NRO has a good take on it:
"...[Last night's debate] shows how important character and narrative is to a presidential campaign. McCain, Huckabee, and Rudy have shifted to the right in this race, but it doesn't hurt them so much because they already have their characters/narratives set, as the war-hero straight-talker, good-guy Christian underdog, and tough-talking "America's Mayor" respectively. Once you have those identities, you are allowed a lot of room to maneuver. Romney's problem is that the maneuvering became his character/narrative. And once that's the case, you can't even put up a new sign at one of your events—the "To Do" list in New Hampshire—without people accusing you of being a flip-flopper."
Fundamental: people today crave authenticity in their politicians.
