It was a mediocre debate for Newt, and a merely OK one for Romney (you could tell that his new debate coach had worked for Bachmann, and that isn't a good thing). Their confrontation was the most interesting moment of the entire thing but it's not clear whether anyone came out on top, though it does something to undercut Gingrich's (absurd) argument that he's the best candidate because he's a good debater.
Santorum, mostly by default, won (obligatory dismissive parenthetical mention of Ron Paul). But he can't shed the irritable troll persona and present himself as a unifying figure. Unfortunate for him, because Romney's current travails represent the best chance that he's had to be a serious contender, and it seems as though he's incapable of taking advantage of the opportunity.
Anyway, I don't think that it matters. Tonight's debate doesn't change anything. Thursday's CNN debate, which will probably have a more animated audience, might be different.
To be honest, Romney almost KO'd Gingrich in the heated exchange where he almost had a Perry moment(paused for a while), but it was a second too short to be really awkward.
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