Post-debate first take: Fred's not dead...
Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:40 PM by Chuck Todd
From NBC's Chuck ToddThe first 20 minutes of the debate was not good for the entire Republican Party. All of the candidates struggled on the issue of the economy; their answers may have been fine for a primary audience but don't expect swing voters or indie voters to like what these guys said on the economy. They tried to sound in touch but their collective hesitance for government involvement explains why voters tend to want Democrats in economic down times; that's when folks look to government. The middle-class doesn't like government involved when the economy is good.
After the torture of dealing with the economy was over, I think all of the candidates can feel good about their performances. Fred Thompson was funny, biting and energetic. Easily, his smoothest performance but it wasn't necessarily presidential; it was Jack Cafferty-esque... or Paul Harvey-like. He sounded like a smart pundit. Thompson, btw, did McCain a big favor by softening up Huckabee. I'm guessing, though, his style played VERY well with South Carolina Republicans. They kind of like that smart allecky chatter.
Huckabee was more on the defensive tonight as any debate so far. It seemed like he was taking incoming from numerous candidates, particularly Thompson. He handled himself pretty well but the message to conservatives was clear, he may be a social conservative, but he's no small-government economic conservative. Still, give Huckabee credit, he answered the criticisms with his usual wit and probably did well on the likeability front.
Mitt Romney did well early on, though there was an air of desperation in his answers. He quickly targeted McCain, the man standing in the way of victory in Michigan. Romney gave one of the best change rationales I've ever heard him give; I don't understand why it took Romney nearly a year to become this guy.
McCain was fine, the typical sober performance but he needs a bit more energy; there wasn't the same fire as I've seen in previous debates.
Giuliani did better than the last two debates; he was more involved; but it is interesting to watch the candidates and moderators ignore Rudy, to a point.
And then there's Ron Paul... why didn't Fox stick to its guns and keep him out. He was a distraction for a good portion of the debate and took away from the candidates who have a real shot at the nomination.
