CNN Jacksonville, FL GOP debate **live commentary thread**

[retromike22]

I wonder if Santorum did so well because his mom was there.

[Thomas D]

I wonder if Santorum did so well because his mom was there.

He's the Kevin Spacey of politics.

[NHI]

Romney: A
Santorum: B+
Paul: B-
Gingrich: D

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I wonder if Santorum did so well because his mom was there.

Interesting theory.

[RogueBeaver]

Romney: A
Santorum: B+
Paul: B-
Gingrich: D

[J. J.]

Romney: A
Santorum: B+
Paul: B-
Gingrich: D

And I thought I was a tough grader!  

[Averroës Nix]

Awful night for Gingrich, but also a somewhat bad night for Romney. He did well overall, but he had two big problems: Not knowing what was in his ad, and Santorum finally mounting an effective attack on him over his MA healthcare plan.


Probably doesn't matter at this point, but I think that it's worth noting.

[King]

Romney had a new debate coach?

[NVGonzalez]

Romney: A
Santorum: B+
Paul: B-
Gingrich: D

[Lief 🗽]

Well, the primary season's basically over then. America will have to choose between an upstanding leader who has tirelessly fought to undo the disasters of the Bush administration in Barack Obama, and a lying Mormon.

[Oakvale]

Ugh, it's over. Gingrich did terribly, and, more importantly, the crowd was fairly pro-Romney.

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Paul: A-
Santorum: B

Newt: C


Romney: D

[RogueBeaver]

There were far too many trivial questions, plus absolutely nothing on the Euro crisis, entitlements or the deficit.

Another question I'd like to see, as a Canuck: Canada is inches away from inking a Canada-EU FTA. Would you be willing to plug NAFTA into it and create TAFTA? Should be an easy yes for Romney and Gingrich.

[J. J.]

Awful night for Gingrich, but also a somewhat bad night for Romney. He did well overall, but he had two big problems: Not knowing what was in his ad, and Santorum finally mounting an effective attack on him over his MA healthcare plan.


Probably doesn't matter at this point, but I think that it's worth noting.

I think the first one can be turned into a strength.  Santorum gains, at the expense of Gingrich.  Romney gains, a little, at the expense of Gingrich.

[J. J.]

Well, the primary season's basically over then. America will have to choose between an upstanding leader who has tirelessly fought to undo the disasters of the Bush administration in Barack Obama, and a lying Mormon.

Too bad Obama made it worse.

[Lief 🗽]

Well, the primary season's basically over then. America will have to choose between an upstanding leader who has tirelessly fought to undo the disasters of the Bush administration in Barack Obama, and a lying Mormon.

Too bad Obama made it worse.

False.

[Simfan34]

An Atlantic FTA is needed. The great last hope of the West!

[Peeperkorn]

There were far too many trivial questions, plus absolutely nothing on the Euro crisis, entitlements or the deficit.

This is a problem with "American" debates: they ask:

a) Stupid questions.

b) The same questions of other debates.

c) And sometimes great questions, but they ask them to the wrong candidates.

[Scooter]

Romney -     A
Santorum-   B+
Gingrich -     C+
Paul -           C+

Santorum went balls to the wall, no doubt, but thats easy to do when you are way down in the polls

Newt didn't have his softballs served up or the SC crowd to help him

Romney should give his new debate coach a raise.

[Dereich]

I'm just back from the debate and haven't had time to read reactions yet: what did you guys think? How were we in the audience and were there any moments that will be on all the headlines tomorrow?

[J. J.]

Well, the primary season's basically over then. America will have to choose between an upstanding leader who has tirelessly fought to undo the disasters of the Bush administration in Barack Obama, and a lying Mormon.

Too bad Obama made it worse.

False.

True. 

[Marokai Backbeat]

Well, the primary season's basically over then. America will have to choose between an upstanding leader who has tirelessly fought to undo the disasters of the Bush administration in Barack Obama, and a lying Mormon.

Too bad Obama made it worse.

False.

True. 

You made a empirical assertion that can be checked. Whether you like Obama or not, the economy is objectively not worse than it was when he took office (and is in fact, better). That is something that is observable. It is a fact.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Well, the primary season's basically over then. America will have to choose between an upstanding leader who has tirelessly fought to undo the disasters of the Bush administration in Barack Obama, and a lying Mormon.

Too bad Obama made it worse.

False.

True. 

You made a empirical assertion that can be checked. Whether you like Obama or not, the economy is objectively not worse than it was when he took office (and is in fact, better). That is something that is observable. It is a fact.

Unless of course you think it would have been better, sooner without the actions that Obama has undertaken.

[Sam Spade]

The Russians put a dog IN a rocket. Romney would put a dog ON a rocket.

http://twitter.com/Grrr_Romney

[RI]

Did anyone else find it odd when Paul threatened Wolf with age discrimination laws when he actively wants to get rid of racial discrimination laws?