Bottom Line: Romney is smart, can take a hit, and has a fifty state strategy. Who else could say that?
General:
Knowing everyone is tired, oh so tired, of politics at this blog, I shall give five general observations and then hold myself to one sentence on each candidate:
First, McCain is running as if it were 2000 and we have learned nothing about him since.
Second, Rudy is not able to tell a story and debates without any overarching theme to any of his comments.
Third, the last two debates have been real debates and run very well.
Fourth, Thompson must have mysterious appeal to NRO writers I totally miss, since he is no more specific most of the time than Huckabee with the rhetorical skills of the bear in Grizzly Adams.
Finally, Romney hit the strategy for dealing with Huckabee without attacking his religion or region by pushing him for the devils in the details of the Huckabee candidacy.
Winner:
Romney showed that being at the center of the storm is good, if you are bright enough to do details while telling a compelling life story.
Draw:
McCain: John McCain was his better self, which reminds us, given what we have seen the last twenty-four hours, that he has two selves.
Loser:
Huckabee: In general, Mike was good, but in particular he was horrid.
Rudy: Still is not giving us a reason why we should vote for him over the other fine choices the party has.
Thompson: Thompson must assume once again that posing as a head on Mount Rushmore will get him to the Mountain without ever doing the dirty work of running for President.