Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

While it is difficult to choose a clear winner from last night's debate in New Hampshire, there was one clear loser: Mitt Romney. As Huckabee adviser Ed Rollins said before the debate that about summed up what happened: "Nobody likes Romney."

When Romney told Mike Huckabee not to micharacterize his positions, Huckabee quipped, "Which one?"

When Romney declared that he was for health care mandates when they aren't in his national plan, Fred Thompson quipped, "Now you're for mandates?"

When the issue of amnesty for illegal immigrants came up, Giuliani pointed out that Ronald Reagan, the savior of the Republican Party, granted amnesty to illegal immigrants and that if he were in the race that he would be a target of Romney's negative ads.

And when Romney declared that he was the candidate of change, John McCain quipped that Romney had made it clear that he was "the candidate of change."

Fred Thompson and John McCain are our winners of the debate.

Thompson excelled in this format where the "open debate" at the beginning allowed him to exercise his wit. Similarly, with all the candidates seated, it allowed him to strike an authortative pose that looked like it was out of a movie.

McCain was able to shift effectively to his experience and national security credentials in his responses. And as the only candidate besides Romney who is seriously competing in the state, he seemed to be talking directly to the New Hampshire audience at times. The other candidates seemed to be content just hammering Romney.   

Ron Paul went largely unnoticed except when he was ranting (incomprehensibly) about inflation. Huckabee stayed on message and held his relative position. And Giuliani, while appearing Presidential, seemed to take a backseat to the Senators and Governors on the stage.

Romney was clearly disliked, if not despised, by his rivals. This has something to do with what Huckabee said during the debate. He said that policies change with generations, but principles don't. (That is the reason that all the candidates have weaknesses on illegal immigration) The problem with Romney is that he has changed not only his policy positions, but his principles. 

The very end was a welcome surprise that drew a standing ovation from the crowd and made you proud to be an American: (h/t: On Call)

That is probably the first and last time you will ever see those people in the same room together.