Florida Republican debate: Winners and Losers

The four politicians vying for the Republican nomination for president were on stage Thursday night for their final debate before voters in Florida decide who they want to compete against President Obama in November. The 19th sparring contest in front of the television cameras may be make or break time for one of the candidates.

(At left, CBSNews.com's Brian Montopoli breaks down who did well -- and who didn't -- in the debate.)

WINNERS

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney came out swinging and when Newt Gingrich attacked, he hit back. Hard. Mitt Romney was more aggressive than he has been in prior debates. That may be because he senses the importance of changing the narrative for Tuesday's Floriday primary. Gingrich won an upset victory in South Carolina on January 21 after a stellar debate performance a week ago and is leading a number of national polls released this week, including an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released just before the start of Thursday's debate.

Romney wants to stop that momentum in Florida and he now understands that political attacks are more often than not seen by voters for their response than what the original charge was. "When I am shot at, I will return fire. I am no shrinking violet," Romney told CNN in a post-debate sideline interview, adding that he expects his performance "is going to give me the boost that I need" for Tuesday's vote.

During the debate Romney landed several punches on Gingrich's chin, which was sticking out unlike in previous debates. In debating Gingrich's plan to colonize the moon, Romney said, "I spent 25 years in business, I had a business executive come to me and say they wanted to spend a few hundred billion dollars to put a colony on the moon, I'd say, 'You're fired."'

When Gingrich pressed him on his wealth and a closed Swiss bank account, Romney gave a more straightforward and self-assured response than in past debates: "I'm proud of being successful, I'm proud of being in the free enterprise system that creates jobs for other people. I'm not going to run from that."

Rick Santorum

Santorum had his strongest debate performance yet. When Romney criticized President Obama's signature legislative achievement and said he would repeal the overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, Santorum pointed out that the bill was modeled after similar legislation Romney championed as governor of Massachusetts and Romney would not be able to defend his law against Obama. "What Governor Romney said is just factually incorrect. Your mandate is no different than Barack Obama's mandate. It is the same mandate" to force individuals to buy insurance.

Ron Paul

Blitzer asked the 76 year old Texas lawmaker if he would be willing to release his medical record because he would be the oldest person elected president if he were to win, Paul said he would "obviously" release it "because it's about one page, if even that long." He challenged the other candidates to a 25 mile bike ride in the heat of Texas. Gingrich even praised Paul's vigor on the campaign trail and said "he's in great shape" and would be "quite ready to serve if he's elected." Paul even managed to put Blitzer on notice for "age discrimination." Overall, Paul provided some comic relief and didn't disappoint his followers in reiterating his positions. 

LOSERS

Newt Gingrich

Gingrich was flatter this debate than in past debates. And while he had some nice zingers to come back at Romney, he did not have a "knockout punch" that many said he needed to have to keep Romney from winning Florida on Tuesday. Gingrich received wild praise for his harsh attack on debate moderator John King last week and tried to double down on his strategy of attacking the host to build support.

But Gingrich's attack on moderator Wolf Blitzer for asking about whether he was satisfied with the level of transparency in Romney's personal finances backfired. He called the question "nonsense" and suggested the four candidates on stage talk about "issues that relate to the governing of America" and leave the attacks for television interviews or other forums. He basically said statements made on the campaign trail weren't necessarily fodder for the debates.

Blitzer pressed Gingrich to answer the question. "If you make a serious accusation against Governor Romney like that, you need to explain that." 

Romney took a jab at Gingrich for makings accusations he was not "willing to defend here," and Gingrich went straight for the exit from the high road. "Given that standard, Mitt, I did say I thought it was unusual. And I don't know of any American president who has had a Swiss bank account."

Romney came back that his investments were in a blind trust over which he had no control. "There's nothing wrong with that," Romney said.

More from the debate:

Gingrich, Romney at each other's throats over immigration
Gingrich, Romney agree to blame the Palestinians, Obama for lack of progress in the peace process
Gingrich hints at making Marco Rubio VP
Gingrich, Romney hit each other over involvement in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Romney tells Gingrich: I'd fire you for your moon proposal

[bluetruckinla]

Crunch time is here conservatives need to get behind Newt Gingrich. I am surprised Santorum has not thrown already his weight behind Newt Gingrich with the understanding it is for Florida only. It is hopeless for Santorum in Florida. Santorum will only guarantee a Mitt Romney victory in Florida. Mr. Santorum you never have a chance against Mitt Romney's money. If you let Newt Gingrich take on Mitt Romney on a equal footing in Florida you would stand a much BETTER chance against Newt Gingrich later. Mr. Santorum if you are not the nominee who would you rather pick the next 2 supreme court justices Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich? Do you have a conscious Mr. Santorum or are you vain? No insult intended Mr. Santorum surely the logic is inescapable, cede Florida to Newt Gingrich in a temporary strategic alliance which would allow you and Newt Gingrich to live to fight another day !!!

[acommoner-mt]

We in the USA set many: quality, safety, health, environment and wage standards for various reasons. We can not set all these regulations and requirements and not expect that thousands of US American factories, millions of US American jobs, billions of US American dollars, and now the interest and obligation on trillions of US American debt would not be exported in the name of Free Trade. We do not need fewer regulations. We only need Fair Free Trade, a level playing field for the US American worker/producer to compete on for the USA market. Fair Free Trade! (Not Balanced Trade - Exporting a billion dollars of raw materials and importing a billion dollars of "Made In China" consumer goods does not return jobs to US Americans, us Montanans.) Fair Free Trade, where all imports to any given market must meet at least ALL minimum production/providing standards of: quality, safety, health, environment, and wages of the importing country, would bring factories, and jobs back to the USA, back to Montana. It would put money in the hands of our working domestic consumers, and directly into the hands of working foreign consumers that could then buy more "Made In The USA", more "Made In Montana" products. Go to: http://www.manifestry.info > Trade

[noloyalisti]

My suggestion for 2012 is to start the Occupy Together 99% Party as a SECOND political party for America. We will run candidates against the Top 1% RepubliDems Party.

Actually this is taken directly from the Occupy Declaration which outline this plan (although they call it a third party).

[Zann-Zel]

We don't need a 3rd party. We need to revamp the whole system! We need to design a way for each Amercian to vote on each issue one at a time. We need to take the corruptible representatives out of the equation alltogether.

[TimeIsNowfor99]

We should learn to walk before we run. I would vote for any candidate on an Occupy Party for the next few elections just to drive change. I also strongly support their commitment to fairness for all Americans and their patriotic commitment to restoring true democracy to America.

[Zann-Zel]

by TimeIsNowfor99 January 27, 2012 6:34 PM EST
Zann

I voted mainly democrat last election. I try to look at the issues of the time and what is being proposed and choose the best one. After these GOOP debates, it would be very hard for me to vote GOP again. Racist remarks from Santorum, newt and Romney. All are crooked. And they are elitists not there to serve us, but to legislate America so we all serve them. There should be no political parties. Too many people are blindly allegiant and that ignoranrt form of apathy is what led us down this path of national destruction.
-----------
I'm begining to agree. There should be no political parties at all.
We need a new system where all Americans can vote one at time, for each issue. One issue at a time. The Us vs. Them situation is only getting worse. We all need to be Independents.

[DottyMcP]

The money behind Romney makes me think he will go into Washington with a LOT of payback owed, and he will trade away everything and anything because of that debt to all that money.



I also believe the reason so many Washington "insiders", former and current, back Romney is that, they feel they can manipulate Romney because he is not as strong a character as Gingrich.



Bob Dole himself admits that Gingrich is tough. We need someone who is a take- charge, in-your-face, get- it-done President. That would be Newt Gingrich.

Speaker Gingrich does not need a "new debate coach" to teach him how to ACT tough.

Newt IS tough. We NEED Newt Gingrich to whip Washington out of its malaise and dysfunction and to FIX OUR COUNTRY.

[TimeIsNowfor99]

Newt was 'booted' out of Dc his first go around. He is known as the inventer of obstructionism in government. So why in the world would you want him to lead the charge for change? Blindly allegiant?

[AnewPerspective]

If we apply your logic, mitt is the most wealth candidate, the one who DOESN'T need others money to run. All the other candidates - including obama need others money - so your logic is flawed. Mitt's the only one who can't be bought - as the others would all need money to run against him.

Now, not saying mitt's the guy - just saying your logic is flawed. Try a new supposition.

[noloyalisti]

This title of the story is an oxymoron. There is no winner when a Republicon is involved. Period. Everyone is a loser, especially the 99% of the American people that have to eat and keep healthy.

The only people who vote for any Republicon for any office are self-hating Americans. They want the Top 1% to have everything and to tell them what to do, what to think and how to live. The current Republicon Party represents slavery, war and death, spending and taxes (for all the 99%) and a bleak, tragic future for the world and it's people.

[TimeIsNowfor99]

Romney is not the type of capitalist that creates American jobs. Romney is an elitest who wants to avoid pulling his fare share. For a guy who makes money by moving money and feels succesful at it, he sure doesn't want to pay his fare share of taxes. I work as an engineer about 55 to 60 hours a week and make under 6 figures. I pay a higher net tax rate than Romney and I am p!ssed about it. And Romney wants to lower capital gains taxes so he can even pay a lower rate. What about fiscal responsibility. In Romney's world, that means getting someone else to pick up the tab. Sad thing is that Newt wants to remove all taxes on capital gains. What a bunch of self serving elitists we have for the GOP this year. I would love to continue to vote GOP, but not with any of these guys. These candidates were hand picked by the 1%. That is the only way to explain it. Their policis will do nothing to help the average American. And the argument that lowering taxes will create more jobs through more investment is bogus. Like Buffett said, investors use their money to make money by choosing the options with the best returns. They still will invest because they will have no better option. Just plain greed is what is going on. Greed driven politicians.

[noloyalisti]

Robmee and the Republcons want higher taxes for everyone except their Top 1% corporate masters. These idiots actually make the former pResident Bushoccio look like a human being.

[Zann-Zel]

Democrats welcome engineers too! : )

OBAMA 2012

[AnewPerspective]

A house divided cannot stand. This country is too strong to be taken down/out from the outside - however - it can be taken down/out from rot from the inside.

We as a people have been pitted against each other. So long as we are splintered and fighting among ourselves we are weak. And we all will lose everything dear to us that this great country offers.

Unfortunately, there are those who have suggested that the divisions can be eliminated by eliminating one side or the other of the argument.

That does not bode well for ANY republic. And therein, is the strategic pitting against the people.

the question is, do we become the dupes by which the division is solidified? Or do we become those United to heal the chasm purposely created between peoples?

The chasm is disparity of money and religion - with their attending jealousy and prejudice.

The solution is acceptance and understanding.

The vehicle for strategic disparity is intellectual and emotional chaos.

We the people are strategically bombarded by intellectual and emotionally invoking stimuli - until either jealousy/prejudice becomes our acting motivations - or until overwhelm and attending apathy overcomes any effort to even try.

Either outcome - results in an an enslaved nation.

The only way through is back to the basics "We the People" and the "United" States of America.

[Zann-Zel]

We have to give up the us vs. them. The 2 party system. We need to start voting, one person at a time on one issue at a time. That would make us all Independents. All equal.

[Nobull_305]

Hmmm, I was just thinking where did all those "I voted for Obama" bumper stickers go? He promised change, well they got it. We are becoming a "me" generation that prefers welfare over a paycheck, socialism over prosperity. We are buying all the b/s that the leftist media is throwing at us. It is in their best interest to keep us home unemployed, uneducated, stupefied by frivolous shows that are keeping the media Rich. We are not only degrading our financial rating, we are degrading society, is that what we want for the future of our kids? Their inability to dream big, to work hard for their dreams, to be able to say "one nation under GOD". I hope you see thru the B/S people, learn the process, your candidates and vote not for popularity but for what is really going to ensure that this remains the greatest nation the world has ever seen.

I've seen the writing on the wall in my own home town, believe me when I say Obama has ensured that we become a weak nation financially, scientifically, Militarily, a nation where beliefs are silenced the same beliefs that founded this nation. He has supported and bowed down to those who are a major threat to this country and our democracy. O.M.G. = Obama Must Go!

[fiberglass3]

305 - You missed a few years in your memory bank. Who put us in this rotten position in the first place?
Who has tried to keep us here by doing nothing but voting "NO" to every possible idea presented?

[pr_boxer]

Newt got his butt kicked last night, Romney nailed him to the wall, Paul zinged him, even Santorum got a chunk of his a$$.