The crowd was very engaged and the questions were insightful. With an additional 30 second response time to the 1 minute response that the candidates have been used to in previous debates, they were able to articulate their case to earn the loyalty of the much coveted South Carolina voter.
By all accounts, it was Newt Gingrich's strongest debate. But let's be honest, this comes as no surprise. Gingrich is a great debater. His quick wit, cunning responses and eloquent delivery make him seem like the "Wise Grandpa" in the room. Props to Newt.
One of his strongest moments of the night came when Fox's Juan Williams asked Gingrich about his controversial proposal to have low income children volunteer to work as janitors and aids at their schools in order to earn money and develop a pride in work ethic. Newt seized the moment and nailed his response.
He responded by saying, "First of all Juan, the fact is that more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history. I believe that every American of every background has been endowed by their creator with the right to pursue happiness. And if that makes liberals unhappy, I'm going to continue to find ways to help poor people learn how to get a job, learn how to get a better job and learn some day to own the job." That response earned him a standing ovation.
Gingrich made an effective case, but is it too late?
He scored very poorly in Iowa and today a blow to any momentum he was feeling has been wiped out by a newly revised New Hampshire election tally. The new tally actually places Gingrich in 5th place behind Rick Santorum's 4th place finish. (Click to read full CNN article).
He scored very poorly in Iowa and today a blow to any momentum he was feeling has been wiped out by a newly revised New Hampshire election tally. The new tally actually places Gingrich in 5th place behind Rick Santorum's 4th place finish. (Click to read full CNN article).
Furthermore, momentum will be hard to gain when all week Gingrich has been playing nasty politics with his negative attacks on Mitt Romney's business record. Many have questioned if Gingrich has actually become a mouth-piece for the left with his attacks on capitalism, free enterprise and questioning the morality behind profits made by executives.
Conservatives have had a bad taste in their mouths and the Obama machine has loved every second of it.
Unfortunately, Gingrich's latest campaign strategy has only reminded voters that he is a divisive and polarizing political figure. All of his successes as Speaker of the House and impressive debate performances continue to be overshadowed by his current alienating campaign strategies. History is repeating itself--he was this same person in Washington DC.
***
Saturday's contest in South Carolina is just a few days away, but I am sure for the Romney camp it feels like an eternity.
Hopefully, despite the attacks from all rivals, voters in South Carolina will recognize that Mitt Romney's successes have been exemplary. His experience in the private sector in stabilizing failing companies is extraordinary. His bipartisan reforms and balancing the budget without raising taxes in Massachusetts was remarkable. His discipline in restoring the failing 2002 Olympics from disaster was profound.
Mitt Romney has a long history of making weak things stronger, broken programs functional, and prosperity attainable.
Mitt Romney's disciplined and unprecedented leadership is exactly what America needs in a President. Under his direction, America will become stronger--America will prosper--America will better. Under a Mitt Romney Presidency, "it could be worse"--as recently said by President Obama in regards to the current state of our economy--will never be tolerated.
We deserve more. Now more than ever, America needs Mitt Romney.
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