In sports news last night...the Boston Red Sox, after being down 3 games to 1 in the AL Championship Series, staged a pretty miraculous comeback and made it back to the World Series. In Denver, the Broncos beat the Steelers on a last second field goal. And there was a Republican Presidential Debate.
Two of the major things that stood out to me was the sharpening of the tongues, with the major candidates calling each other out by name, and the segment devoted to Hillary bashing. While they all made some good points, considering it was FOX News debate, it may have been just a little over the top...
That aside, the headlines in the major papers paint the debate as a Thompson-Giuliani showdown, which is looking like the direction that the race as a whole is headed.
John McCain had a great night, and I may have to go as far as to call him the winner. He drew a standing ovation at one point when he turned an attack on Clinton into a reference of his days as a POW. After him, I'd say Fred Thompson, and then Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani shot back at attacks on his record and Thompson dished out his fair share; and both did it while maintaining a Presidential demeanor. After that, I'd say Mike Huckabee, who's folksy/preacher charm is beginning to look Presidential, and then Mitt Romney, whose businessman/consultant demeanor is growing tired.
To be fair, if this were a real debate as opposed to a campaign debate, then I'd put Ron Paul right up there, maybe even at the top. From an intellectual/academic standpoint he makes a lot of sense. But that's not what campaign debates are about, and he doesn't have a chance at this nomination.
News Roundup:
Rich Galen
Jonathan Martin
Mark Halperin's Scorecard
Marc Ambinder's Take
First Read's News Roundup
Chuck Todd discusses the debate
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