Iowa GOP debate: Winners and Losers

Republican presidential candidates former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. pose for a photo before the start of the Iowa GOP/Fox News Debate at the CY Stephens Auditorium in Ames, Iowa, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Iowa's first Republican presidential debate on Thursday night may leave the state of the race fairly unchanged: Mitt Romney appeared to hold onto his status as the frontrunner, Newt Gingrich went nowhere, and Tim Pawlenty was left scrambling to defend himself.

Here's a breakdown of the night's winners and losers:

Winners:

Rick Perry. The biggest winner of the night may have been a candidate who has yet to even enter the race. The Texas governor is expected to surge to the top tier of the GOP field after he officially announces his campaign on Saturday, but the candidates on stage had largely positive things to say about him. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said he'd bring some "savvy" on the issue of jobs. Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made sure the audience knew he traveled with Perry to Afghanistan last year.

Mitt Romney. Already leading in polls among national Republican voters, Romney sounded like a candidate ready to take on President Obama. While other candidates bickered over each others' policy stances and records, Romney largely stayed above the fray. He stayed on message, even fitting his seven-point plan to economic recovery into a one-minute speaking limit.

Michele Bachmann. The Tea Party congresswoman took a lot of hits from Pawlenty, but she reaffirmed what conservative voters know and like about her: She's willing to stand her ground on the issues, and she can hold her own in a fight.

Jon Huntsman. The former Utah governor is seen as a longshot, what with his background as Mr. Obama's ambassador to China and his troubled campaign. But tonight was Huntsman's debate debut. And while he wasn't a breakout star, he did just fine, and now a few more Republican voters know who he is.

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Losers:

Newt Gingrich. The former House speaker, who arguably had the most potential to add some serious policy analysis to the debate, was preoccupied criticizing the Fox News debate moderators and the media in general.

Tim Pawlenty. The former Minnesota governor wanted to come off like a fighter, but his feud with Bachmann may have been too nasty for his own good. Fox News moderator Chris Wallace summed up the state of Pawlenty's campaign when he asked, "Governor, is [Bachmann] unqualified or is she just beating you in the polls?"

Herman Cain. The businessman made an impression in the very first Republican presidential debate, but he failed to stand out this time around, and did nothing to reverse his fading prospects.

Rick Santorum, Ron Paul. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul are about as different ideologically as two people in the same party could be -- and that was clear as they sparred with one another. Santorum's hardline social conservatism will surely appeal to some voters, as Paul's libertarian views will appeal to others, but it's hard to see how either breaks through to a broader audience.

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14 Photos

The narrowing GOP presidential field

[chpeater]

This government has been stripping its citizens of its rights for centuries and the American people just keep letting it happen by voting in the same old moron politicians. They lie, cheat, steal, and rape us of our constitutional rights. Right now, Ron Paul is the only politician that is actually speaking the truth and trying to save what is left of our constitution. Americans better wake up before its too late. Remember what happen in Germany before WWII????

[WakeUpHolland]

Must be terrible to have written this article and see the polls afterwards:
Ron Paul 29% and Mitt Romney 25%.
And Ron Paul in the article is under the losers?
Is the media still in touch with reality?
They just don't want Ron Paul to become the next president of the U.S. The establishment is getting scared now!

[geigera]

These polls are why CBS news is nearly irrelevant....

[Lindag10]

I just noticed that Michele has that SAME deranged stare in the picture in THIS article that she had in the picture on the Newsweek cover. That's HOW she LOOKS ALL THE TIME, so what was all the uproar over anyway? Just saying.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

by Nommrng August 12, 2011 2:29 PM EDT
You would prefer someone who has no religion?
Fine. But without any basis of ethics or morality or integrity or honesty wouldn't a non-religion person be the perfect politician?

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"Without any basics of ethics or morality"???

Who told you someone else should tell you what your morals are, and why were you stupid enough to listen?

.

[Lindag10]

What leads Nutmeg to believe that being religious ensures that people have ethics, morality and integrity? People who run around touting their religion seem to be less honest, moral and have less integrity than those who don't claim any strong religous belief. I've learned from bitter experience NOT to hire anyone who claims to be a Christian to do any work for me. I've been ripped off by lawn care people, plumbers and carpenters that claim Christianity. Not only are they unreliable, they do shoddy work and think they're entitled to top dollar. People have ethics, honesty and integrity because they CHOOSE to be that way, religion doesn't make them so.

[bases156]

Bible thumping actors - all of them. Not one qualified to lead this country.

[slappy-mcjohnson]

by Nommrng August 12, 2011 2:12 PM EDT
What exactly is the "American Taliban"?

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The Religious Right, Numbrains, who would like to institute a theocracy here. That's who.

.

[Zann-Zel]

You know those people...the one's who think women shouldn't get birth control - but shouldn't have abortions - shouldn't get abortions - but the kids can starve too. The one's who secretly would Love to see us go to a culture where a single woman should NEVER be seen in the company of a single man. Its the "Father Know's Best" crowd!

[slappy-mcjohnson]

Well, that's why you take such offense to the term, Numbrains - YOU'RE ONE OF THEM!

[Alex_Votocracy]

Where do we go from here? It seemed like the debate still left some unanswered questions on the GOP candidates..who do you think the clear winner was? Will they be the fav. for the primaries: http://******/nQzfdz

[mountainstates1]

It's the American people who are the real losers in this debate. This has to be, without question, the worst, least knowledgeable, the craziest, and most mentally emotinoally unstable group of extremist Republicans ever running for president in US history!

[Progress4U]

by Nommrng August 12, 2011 12:37 PM EDT
Once again, if the USPS had debt commitments from their pensions, why would anyone expect that they shouldn't fund them?
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The MANDATE was to pay within 5 years...not like 10 or 20 or 30??? Not EVERYBODY in USPS is retiring within the next 5 years sport! Come on now...let's do a little CRYING about mandated government regulation. You should be ALL OVER THIS ISSUE!!!