June 13th New Hampshire presidential primary debate **live commentary thread**

[angus]

At any rate, Pawlenty was completely miserable in this debate. The man has nothing to do on. He's a helium balloon.

Argon. 

Helium rises. 

[The Mikado]

Mitt Romney managed to look good by comparison, proving this gem:



to be right as usual.

[angus]

so is Gingerich back in play?  anybody?

[King]

so is Gingerich back in play?  anybody?

As a running mate, yes.  He will never work at the top of a ticket.

[Liberté]

so is Gingerich back in play?  anybody?

No. He did worse than I expected tonight, actually. Gingrich always worked best when he played the role of the plucky populist. Take that away from him and he can't debate his way out of a speeding ticket.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

It's time for some grades.

Bachmann: A
Romney: A
Santorum: B
Gingrich: C+
Paul: C
Cain: C
Pawlenty: F

[Paul Kemp]

It sounded like Pawlenty was reading from the 2004 GOP playbook.

[Lincoln Republican]

so is Gingerich back in play?  anybody?

He'll have to get a new campaign team, unless he decides to go it alone.

But seriously, his campaign is still on life support.

[Liberté]

It sounded like Pawlenty was reading from the 2004 GOP playbook.

And he did so terribly. Pawlenty can't say of his opponents that they're liberals, so demagoguery on social conservative issues is a no-win situation for him.

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

Romney dodged some questions, Gingrich did a bit better than usual, Santorum ranted a little. Cain really didn't shine in this debate. Bachmann did a very good job, as did Paul. Funny thing I noticed; outside of foreign policy (whereupon he turned into Rudy Giuliani), T-Paw had a habit of starting his statements up with a bit of his opinion and then following it up with "but I agree with Dr.Paul", "Dr.Paul brings up a good point", etc. It was weird seeing the "serious" candidate constantly plug in the black sheep in a debate against aforementioned black sheep.

[sentinel]

Bachmann: B
Romney: A
Santorum: B
Gingrich: B
Paul: B+
Cain: F
Pawlenty: F

This was Cain and Pawlenty's time to make themselves the anti-Romney and they screwed that up. Santorum and Bachmann tried to hide their crazy and were more successful than usual.

[Liberté]

Ah, right:

Bachmann: C+
Romney: B
Santorum: C
Gingrich: C
Paul: B+
Cain: C+
T-Paw: F

Not one of these guys really made the night theirs.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Bachmann- A
Romney- B-
Paul-B-
Cain-C+
Santorum-C
Gingrich-C
Pawlenty-F

[SmokingCricket]

Bachmann: A
Romney: A
Paul: B
Cain: C
Santorum: C
Ginrich: B
Pawlenty: F


Also agree with a previous post: King was an excellent moderator.

[angus]

I think Gingerich was succinct, and he's not really known for that.  He was also decisive.  I'm not fan of his, but it'll be interesting to see how this plays in Peoria, er, Portsmouth I suppose. 

But among the Republicans, Bachmann actually showed that she wasn't as vapid as Palin.  I guess it's rather sexist of me to assume that she'd be, but I have to admit that on some level I was surprised.  I still find her frightening, but in this debate I'll assume she's up.

Mitt Romney.  Probably not what he'd hoped for, but he had a good line or two.  He actually managed the obomneycare charges well.  I'd give him a neutral, which means that he's probably still the frontrunner.

Pawlenty had a chance to cut into Romney like a lion tears into Christians at one of Nero's famed circus events, but he insisted on focusing on meat getting packed.  Republicans aren't particularly interested in that sort of thing.  On the other hand, he wrapped himself up in God and the Flag on a couple of key ocassions, and Republicans are particularly interested in that.  But on several key issues, he didn't exploit the moment to surpass Romney.  So overall, he's down.

Ron Paul had his usual appeal.  But, as usual, he seemed frail and ancient and too narrowly focused on statistics, rather than on people.  This was never more apparent that when he was asked about a five year old child being denied medical attention.  To his credit, he tried to redirect the audience, but he's not an attorney, after all, and the attempt, though noble, fell flat.  I'd say he's slightly down. 

Herman Cain didn't shine either.  Not that I expected him to, but I thought he'd best the others in the faith questions.  As inappropriate and vulgar as I find them, many Republicans eat that shit up.  But Pawlenty did a better job in this regard.  I think Cain is down.

Santorum actually came off better than I expected.  At no moment did he foam at the mouth, for example.  And on the question of gay marriage--although I think it should be legal--he gave an intelligent and appropriately legal answer.  Clever, too.  My sense is that the's up.

But no one iis way up or way up after tonight.  Romney is still the Frontrunner, but he's a weak one.  I don't really see the party collectively achieving a raging hard-on for Romney, and I think it's still an open game, and lots of votes can be won and lost between now and next summer.

Who's the real winner? 

Obama, probably. 

[Lincoln Republican]

I don't agree with her on the issues for the most part and would not support her, but I have to admit, watching Michelle Bachmann tonight I am extremely impressed with her stage presence, her intelligence, her command of the issues, her public speaking ability.

She stands head and shoulders above Palin in all these aspects.  

[The Mikado]

Michelle Bachmann, I know your proud of your 28 children, but you shouldn't mention it every other sentence.  That's not normal behavior.

[King]

Michelle Bachmann, I know your proud of your 28 children, but you shouldn't mention it every other sentence.  That's not normal behavior.

At least she didn't mention Minnesota and meatpacking in every sentence.

[Yelnoc]

Romney: A
Bachmann: B
Gingrich: B
Cain: C
Paul: C
Santorum: C
Pawlenty: F

[Lief 🗽]

They were all pretty mediocre I think. No one really stood out, though Gingrich, Bachmann and Santorum "beat expectations" I guess. Romney didn't make any crippling gaffes, so I guess he wins by that metric?

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Paul,Romney, Bachamann, Cain and Santorum were solid.  TPaw looked weak tonite.  As for a winner, Bachamann and Paul would get those credits with Romney not to far behind.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Paul,Romney, Bachamann, Cain and Santorum were solid.  TPaw looked weak tonite.  As for a winner, Bachamann and Paul would get those credits with Romney not to far behind.

[useful idiot]

I thought King did a bad job. I was distracted by his "oh...oh....oh....okay...oh...alright...ah..oh" while the candidates were speaking. Thirty seconds isn't enough time to say anything really, let alone enough to make a case for yourself. It was poorly done...

[angus]

For all you unrepentant junkies CNN seems to be replaying the whole thing, starting now. 

[emailking]

I thought King did a bad job. I was distracted by his "oh...oh....oh....okay...oh...alright...ah..oh" while the candidates were speaking. Thirty seconds isn't enough time to say anything really, let alone enough to make a case for yourself. It was poorly done...

Those were the rules they agreed to.