Who won? Who lost? Debate takeaway

Posted: Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:41 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Chuck Todd
Walking on egg shells... that's the sense I got watching this Republican debate tonight. All of the frontrunners were doing just that... walking on those egg shells. With so many Florida eyeballs on them (our NBC broadcast affils in many markets carried this debate), the leading Republican candidates did their best to put on a happy face.

Perhaps all of them saw how both Clinton and Obama killed each other in that CNN debate earlier this week and were afraid of turning off voters. Either way, tonight's debate was the tamest GOP affair in weeks. This, despite the fact that half of this field could be out of contention after next Tuesday.

Overall, the tame affair was good news for both Romney and McCain, the two frontrunners in Florida; both got to sound and look presidential. Romney, in fact, may have had his best debate performance in a long time because he wasn't attacked. In every other recent debate, Romney's struggled when under attack. But he wasn't really attacked tonight and that allowed Romney to control his image more so than in previous debates.

McCain also got to look like a frontrunner, but it appears he tailored his message nationally, more so than Florida.

As for the man with the most pressure on him, Giuliani, he certainly made an attempt to appeal directly to Floridians. He did a good job showing them he's learned their issues but did he look like a winner tonight? He even admitted himself he was an underdog.

Huckabee had some great lines but he didn't seem to be a frontrunner like previous debates.

And then there's Paul; unlike other gadflys, he doesn't raise a stink when he doesn't get the same treatment as the frontrunners but he makes his points well.

OVerall, a very good night for Romney and McCain because the frontrunners didn't get attacked and they got to be presidential.

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Comments

Why is Chris Matthews obsessed with Hillary. It gets tiresome to hear his negative comments over and over again. Be fair, Chris. Act like the professional journalist you should be.

Jan, Toledo OH (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:46 PM)

Romney is the man!

Alejandro Pilsen, Phoenix, Arizona (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:48 PM)

I like this debate. The candidates got to talk about the issues and tried to differentiate themselves from the rivals. This debate is far better than the last Democratic debate where Hillary and Obama went on attacking each other.

MO (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:48 PM)

Aside from the "I don't care about what voters think" remark that could be taken out of context that was uttered by Romney, I don't think that any candidate really pulled ahead or fell down. This is probably troubling for the Giuliani camp since they are staking his whole campaign now on Florida and he seemed to admit that he had faltered. Given the fact that they were allowed to ask questions of each other, it was fairly surprising that none of them were tough or caught their opponents by surprise. I wonder if it would have been like that if their debate was before this recent Democratic one

John, CT (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:49 PM)

There was a lot of back patting I did not see much debating.

Chaunda,IN (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:49 PM)

McCain won. I also think Huckabee had a very good night, and this will likely hurt Romney. Romney sounded like a broken record on national security issues - repeating everything McCain said. I also think Romney got stung twice on the Mormon question and the "are you buying this election" question.

Chris from Navarre, FL (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:50 PM)

Only by breaking the iron triangle of big money, special interest lobbyists, and the legislation they buy, can sovereignty be restored to the American people!! Only John McCain can make this happen while persuing a conservative agenda!!!!!!!!

IdeasNotMoney (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:50 PM)

Huckabee clearly won. His answer on the fairtax won me over.

Chris, Loomis, Ca (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:51 PM)

No one won no one tryied to win. I do not praise the way the democrat candidates sniped but this complete opposite nobody say anything important let's all hold hands approach is just as ineffective and boring to boot.

Chaunda,Indianapolis (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:52 PM)

I don't see how Romney did well at all? He used this debate to go after the democrats. Much of what he said was what any of these candidates would say! He must have forgotten he was debating other republicans.
McCain looked worried when answering economic inqueries. He'd be better as someone's running mate.

Bull Lee, Inter, Zone (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:52 PM)

Hands down, ROMNEY has this one in the bag. McCain, did okay, but mumbled alot and didn't say much. Romney, on the other hand, took advantage of his time to display is qualifications and his ability to lead. I think Huckabee had a rough night, which I think will hurt him come Tuesday.

BryanT, Denver, CO (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:53 PM)

ROFL, you mean MSNBC admits it own bias against Paul when they do not even include him in the "debate" and I use that term lightly. That was the worst "debate" I have ever watched. It was more like a love fest questionnaire than any sort of debate. During the section where candidates are supposed to be asking each other questions, Russert got to talk more than Paul did. I was hoping one of them was going to ask Russert when did he start his campaign for president? This "debate" was a total waste of my time and Romney owes me my 90 minutes back.

Charles, Silver Spring, MD (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:53 PM)

I'd have to strongly disagree. There were many attacks on Romney tonight and he handled them with ease! He came out looking a lot better than the other candidates by far. McCain looked lost many times and he really harmed himself when Paul asked him about the fed. He didn't even know what Paul was talking about and floundered not even answering the question in the slightest.

Joshua Luke, Goose Creek, SC (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:55 PM)

All CFR members have the same answer about the war. Ron Paul tells the truth!

LJ Rowan Oak Ridge Tennessee (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:55 PM)

Only McCain and Romney are uptrending on RealClearPolitics.com polls. And the money is being put on Romney, rather than McCain, which tells you which way those waging on this are now betting. The graph at RealClearPolitics.com on the FL GOP race show Romney's meteoric rise in less than a week. With five more days to go, if Romney can keep it rolling, he may very well roll over McCain, and take Florida's 57 delegates, and huge momentum going into Super Tuesday.

diligentdave - Clearfield, UT (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:56 PM)

I basically agree with Chuck's analysis.

Hey Joe Scarborough , I thought listening to you on Matthews show and then in the post debate analysis, you've moved from your man love crush on Willard Romney to actually wanting to dry hump him

Yes, he showed command of the economic issues, it's the only issue he really has command of. His idea of our foreign policy is to talk to lawyers and build another Guantanamo.

I see Willard is now pushing away from W. He's a bigger panderer than Hilary Clinton and bigger flip flopper than John Kerry.

Now Joe, re what about LIMITING SPENDING and pork barrel do you NOT understand?? who has consistently stood against those things? what is your BOOK about? (read it and liked it)
who has railed against those pork and corrupt interests all of his time in Congress?

what is the BASIS of economics?
how much you bring in and how much you spend. What has the Republican party been doing for the last 12 years? spending.

who has stood up against this crap? this abdication of the principles of Contract with America?

that would be John McCain.
So give the guy credit, even if you retain your man crush on Willard.

as the guy said, he'll take his country over his party each and every time.

Perhaps you should re-read the very book you wrote and do the same.

Bogey Balata, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:56 PM)

I don't know why you say McCain is a front runner. According to the delegates; he's in third place and Mike Huckabee is one of the front runners with Mitt Romney.

tangie, Huntsville, AL (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:56 PM)

To whom it may concern,

It is very obvious that MSNBC is partcipating in the nation wide media black out against candidate
Ron Paul. The national media is controlled by the CFR. The CFR is controlled by the centeral bank system {the fed.}. Ron Paul is a threat to the fed ,therefore the CFR orders the news stations that it owns to minimlize the coverage of congressman Paul. It is painfully obvious to all of us who are Ron Paul supporters that he is effectivly being blacked out by the major media in the United States.
It is absoulity shamefull that the major media ,has traded "freedom of the press" for "bought and paid for" by banks and corporations. Ron Paul is a serious contender in this election and those of us who know about him will spread the word. It's too bad that Americans cannot believe what our main source of information reports to us any more. It borders on treasonist.

Yours truly {Disgusted},

Richard C.Stevens

rick (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:58 PM)

Just reinforces my distaste for Romney. Other than Hillary, he is my least favorite of all candidates. He went from saying whatever he needs to win to clamming up on the campaign funding issue. You want my vote? Tell me the truth! If you will not divulge your financial situation, I understand (that goes for you too, Bill/Hillary), I would hate that as well. Of course I am not running for the mightiest office on Earth! No more pandering, evasive liars...PLEASE!

Dan Chapman, Jacksonville, FL (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:59 PM)

I LOVED Romneys Bill Clinton comment!! So ironic to have the good Mormon alluding to the dirty things Bill Clinton did in the White HOuse.

Monica (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:59 PM)

Doesn't matter. I'm voting for John Edwards.

Mark (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:00 PM)

I completely disagree with your closing statement. McCain got called out by Ron Paul's question, and quite clearly had no idea what he was talking about when he answered. He mostly just jumbled a bunch of people's names together, probably in hopes that people watching wouldn't notice that he was clueless...

It was definately a good night for Romney...but then again you guys were kind of having a love affair with him. It pretty much seemed like you had the camera on him all night, how could it be a bad night for him?

Brandon, Lake St Louis, MO (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:00 PM)

It doesn't matter what your talking heads pushing your agenda for big business and a controlled police-state America think, I care what the American people think.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22830366/

So does Dr. Paul, and he'll never go away, and nor will his ideas. You can kill and silence a man, but ideas live forever. Dr. Pauls have lived for over 225 now.

Kyle Bolton, Glendale, AZ (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:01 PM)

Romney was the clear winner and looked and sounded most presidential. Bring on the Clinton machine.

Bill, Seattle (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:03 PM)

Giuliani and Huckabee need to drop out.

Benjamin Ledger, UFO, New Mexico (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:03 PM)

Chuck, you are simply stating that your network is PRO-ROMNEY PRO-McCAIN! You give all the airtime they want, ask them all the questions. The REAL REPUBLIC, not the fantasy Public Polls of your little samples that represent whoever you want to be on top, want RON PAUL! WE DO NOT WANT FLIP ROMNEY, McCAINT, PREACHABEE, GIRLYANI, OR ANY ONE ELSE! I am astonsided how Tim Russert claims to be such an American Journalist interested in politics but resorts to kissing the butt of a wealthy hack like Romney running for President. You media talking heads are nothing more than puppets. If you had a backbone or a set of brass ones, you would aks hard questions to expose these hacks running for office. Ron Paul is the only one WE THE PEOPLE want!

Scott, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:07 PM)

Mike Huckabee once again shines as the only Republican candidate with a new idea, a new approach to help the United States economy. While the other candidates, including Mitt Romney, talk about the same old shell game, Mike Huckabee proposes the FairTax.

I don’t think the same old same old is what Republicans are looking for, and I know it is not what the country is looking for. I will vote for Mike Huckabee.

Terrence, Atlanta, Ga. (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:08 PM)

Mc Cain doesn't have a temper anymore? I guess it is all in his past of less than a year ago when he unloaded the F Bomb in Congress at another Senator who dared question his amnesty bill. See the article link from the washington post this past May 2007.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2007/05/mccain_cornyn_cursing_showdown.html

Tonight Tim Russert directly quoted John McCain in Michigan saying he was not an expert on the economy. Maybe he is too old to be President if he can't remember what he said in Michigan and forgot that he used the F word in the spring and couldn't see he wrote a Amnesty bill.

everyday, Ventura, CA (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:08 PM)

Economics is clearly the issue at hand, and while all candidates had long winded answers that went no where; I was extremely impressed by the straight forward responses from Ron Paul.

He is the only one I felt presented the 2 key points to the economy questions. 1. Cause. 2. How do you fix it?

Tom, Flagstaff, AZ (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:09 PM)

None of them won, They are all losers. When McCain said if a Democrat gets in all they will do is spend, spend. Well that only shows his ignorance. If that was true, "how come when Bill Clinton left office after an 8 year term, the BUDGET was balanced--AND HE HAD A SURPLUS. Ask Bush if his budget is balanced. Bush's deficit is so HUGE, "it will take nothing less than another Clinton to balanced it.

g.eglesias'nepa~ (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:10 PM)

Ron Paul - Hope for America!!!!

F. T., Texas (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:10 PM)

The media can twist candidates words around! Do your homework America and research every candidates ideas, and don't depend on just the media. Go Huckabee!

Diane Familia, Killeen, Texas (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:10 PM)

The American people won. They saw intelligent, dignified, and sincere candidates each make their case and have a mature and candid conversation with each other and all Americans.

Unlike the Democrats . . . .

Sadie Maie St. Louis (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:11 PM)

"And then there's Paul; unlike other gadflys, he doesn't raise a stink when he doesn't get the same treatment as the frontrunners but he makes his points well."

I could not believe the disparity in time... for everyone! We are down to five major candidates now, why can't everyone get equal time?

Robert Steenwyk, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:13 PM)

Republicans are fake, warmongers and will run up debt and the country into the ground.

Wake up people, it's time for change...Republicans will change ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Terry Radford (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:14 PM)

rick (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:15 PM)

What really irks me, is how John McCain and Rudy Guiliani are constantly plagiarizing Mike Huckabee in their responses. Whether they talk about being good stewards of the earth or energy independence or something else. None of them were saying that stuff back a couple months ago.

Also, back in an October debate, every candidate said the economy was doing great, except for Mike Huckabee. He saw it coming.

Joseph, Leitchfield, Kentucky (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:15 PM)

I believe Tim Russert and to some extent Brian did a very poor job of asking questions of the candidates. It would seem their aim was to introduce negatives versus finding the answers to the candidates thoughts and with few exceptions, Florida did not come to the questioners mind at all.

Charles Henderson, Amelia, VA (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:15 PM)

Ron Paul is the only one who answers with specific details. Just listen to how the others meander around in "we'll have to sit down and talk to the Dems." or "form a panel of experts" McLame is going to surround himself with his buddies to answer all the hard economic questions on the test for him.

Wake up listen to the Dr. before it's too late

Paul Waclo, York, PA (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:15 PM)

Ron Paul has a great message that never gets a chance to be heard. I felt that more airtime was unfairly given to Mitt Romney and John McCain, and that if MSNBC is going to broadcast this event as a debate, then they should let the candidates debate more. The moderaters were so concerned about response times, but Romney got questions asked to him 5-to-1 over Paul. Let the voters get a chance to hear everyones message.

Kyle Smith, Asheville, NC (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:16 PM)

Wow! A compliment for Ron Paul? AMAZING!
Why does he "makes his points well?" Because they are based on common sense and the Constitution. Yet How sad that our media continues to ignore him, silencing the message that is best for our country. Case in point: None of the tv talking heads even mention him in the post-debate analysis. They should be ashamed of themselves for doing a huge disservice to our country by preventing voters from hearing the one candidate that truly has the country's best interest at heart. I am not a Rush Limbaugh fan, but if only there was someone gutsy enough to come out and support the only "conservative" running, then maybe Ron Paul could get the coverage he deserves and the the candidate our country needs to know about.

Debra Craig, Moreno Valley, CA (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:17 PM)

John "DoubleTalk" McCain foolishly tried to make Russert look like he was fabricating a quote for one of the debate questions

Or at 71, maybe it was just the senator's age getting to him when he denied it and said he didn't know where Russert got it.

Let me help. New York Times, Jan. 14, page 25.
The quote also appeared in a number of other publications, including the Seattle Post Intelligencer, Centre Daily Times, Chattanooga Times, and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.

"The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should," McCain said earlier this month, as though the subject wasn't that important. "I've got Greenspan's book."

WakeWashington, Fort Wayne, IN (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:18 PM)

I think Romney was good tonight, but I do think that the other candidates took it easy on him. I liked that a network finally let us get a detailed look at the fair tax plan...that was a deeper explanation on they have allowed in all other debates combined, and I don't think I have missed a Repub debate, except for ESPANOL one. I like Huckabee, but I wish he would be a little more forceful. He needs to show he can be tougher. He needs to dial up the Alpha Dog in his personality a bit.

chris, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:18 PM)

If this is the best the republicans can come up with, no wonder GWB was the flag bearer twice. 1 wants to buy the job, another is praying he will win, still another, even if not directly stating it, would love to scare you into voting for him. All appear to agree that whatever GWB said about going to war with Iraq it was worth it. It is so true that "you get the government you deserve" "Go ahead, Make my Day" vote for one of these boys and you'll get another 4 years of GWB

Ron Hagerman Vancouver (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:18 PM)

Mike Huckabee clearly won. Romney sounded like he always does, overly rehearsed and fake. Giuliani didn't step up when he needed to. McCain didn't even try, and Ron Paul wasn't even on tv long enough to make a legitimate arguement. Huckabee was honest, clear, and concise in his answers... I think I like this guy.

Somer Brown, State College, PA (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:19 PM)

Any of these Republicans are going to lose BIG TIME against any of the 3 remaining democrats. We don't want Bush 3 and all the republicans (except Ron Paul) just spew the same old tired and hollow logic of Bush. Vote Republican and you get a 5 trillion dollar war, no healthcare, no border improvement, no energy independence, no green initiatives and a prolonged broken economy.

Alan, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:19 PM)

WHY ISN'T ANYONE TALKING TO OR ABOUT DR. RON PAUL? WHY ISN'T ANYONE LETTING HIM TALK? HE IS IN THE SAME ROOM!

Sheep.

Rachel Taylor Tulsa, OK (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:19 PM)

I LOVED Mike Huckabee's answers about the fair tax and his faith! He's totally won me over. By the way, why did Romney and McCain get twice the questions/air time as Huckabee and Paul? Romney needs to learn when to stop talking. How many times did they have to tell him that he had gone over the time?

R. Smith, Fort Myers, FL (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:20 PM)

Take note, Mitt did an outstanding job nailing points especially on the Reagan question regarding social security. I think more should be said of Mitt's accomplishments. A side note, I think Ron Paul might surprise a lot of people. I think Guillani will drop out of the race after Florida's primary. My hats off to Mitt Romney and Ron Paul.......McCain who?

Christopher Cargill Laguna Beach, California (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:20 PM)

Romney looks, acts and sounds like the President of the United States. Mitt is it!

BurningMan, NV (Sent Thursday, January 24, 2008 11:22 PM)

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