GOP Dark Horses Fail To Gallop In Debate

Lesser-Known Republican Candidates Don't Grab Spotlight In First Primary Debate

(Politico)  By The Politico's Mike Murphy.

---

Despite the 100 laptops urgently typing away here in the press room, it’s hard to say much really happened at the first Republican presidential primary debate.

The early campaign's Big Three — McCain, Romney and Rudy — all performed well and avoided any deadly mistakes.

None of the dark horse candidates broke through, although several performed credibly and probably increased interest in their campaigns.

Each of the Big Three had their strong moments.

John McCain made the biggest strategic move of the night, reaching back out to the center with a blunt appraisal of the Bush administration’s many mistakes in the Iraq war and expressing strong support for stem cell research.

While these issues are not GOP primary orthodoxy, McCain is never going to be the perfect Republican base candidate. By reaching back to his reformist, centrist roots, a feisty McCain clearly is making a move to reconnect with independent voters.

I think this is a shrewd move, because the authentic McCain is the most impressive McCain to voters, even conservative primary voters.

After a troubling several weeks, McCain is showing his campaign can adjust and improve.

Rudy Giuliani integrated his record of New York City successes into current national problems. But his performance was not as strong as his polling position.

Mitt Romney was smooth and probably won some new admirers for his presidential style.

That said, each had a stumble or two.

McCain had a Yosemite Sam moment early in the debate as he vowed to deposit Osama bin Laden into the gates of hell.

Rudy got tied up in the sharp end of abortion politics with a cloudy answer about his position on Roe v. Wade. He’ll need to get a lot crisper to survive the campaign.

Mitt Romney fumbled a bit on a very predictable question about his evolution on the abortion issue, essentially repeating his answer twice in an awkward loop.

Among the other candidates, Sam Brownback had a particularly strong night. He talked with passion and elegance about the social issues that are the backbone of his candidacy.

Surprisingly, Congressman Tom Tancredo didn’t hammer the powerful immigration issue.

The bottom line: 90 minutes, 10 candidates, no knockouts, no big changes.

Mike Murphy is a Republican political consultant who in the past has advised the campaigns of former Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson. He is also a screenwriter.

[rohink-2009]

It wasn't a debate. It was a joke. Stupid questions asked by a stupid moderator (Chris Matthews).

[grumpas]

As far as I can see they are all dark horses! I didn't watch it for the obvious reasons. I usually make an effort not to watch right wing nuts spewing venom.

[processor2]

The best candidates for today's DemoCrap party would be Lenin & Marx.

The old democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.

...

PS

A democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was

...

[processor2]

The best candidates for today's DemoCrap party would be Lenin & Marx.

The old democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.

...

PS

A democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was

...

[processor2]

The best candidates for today's DemoCrap party would be Lenin & Marx.

The old democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.

...

PS

A democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was

...

[ron1bo-2009]

Not worth the air time. No republican shall sit in the White House for at least 16 years. No neocon will dare show his face after 2008 and the jails will fill up after the people see what these traitors have done to the US.

[thad_enouf]

Why do these guys even bother? Conservatism is finished in this country, thanks to Bush.

[capnboost]

Conservatism isn't Neo-conservatism. Why can't anyone take that concept on board? 16 years eh? I strongly doubt it, lets wait 'till a mainstream democrat bungles things up in a big way and re-evaluate.

Of course the democrat support base seems to be able to forgive any offense esp. looking at the last Dem. presidents history, the rise of the welfare state, etc, etc...

That said, if there was a democratic candidate that wasn't interested in socializing everything and jacking up my taxes to pay for it they might be able to gain my vote.

[dcwolford]

"Conservatism is dead because of Bush"? Bush is NO conservative! He has delivered nothing to his conservative base (excluding big business, which is a very different base indeed), he has expanded the Federal government massively, he spends money faster than it's printed (and that's saying something), and he shows no sign at all of belief in restraining government or traditional social values (sexual orientation a possible exception).

The Republicans' best chance is to nominate a true conservative -- or a libertarian like Ron Paul -- who remembers what small government is about, not a "Democrat Lite" like Bush.

[toldyouso21]

It was a farce. The candidates each gave the "If I was elected spiel as well as touted records that bored people to death" most failed to truly address the question except to bring up past great things they accomplished. It would have been refreshing to have someone , not say "When I was governor...or Just like I enacted...and just came across as real people with real answers--Guiliani probably came pretty close though I liked a few of Tancredo's answers--like he would NOT have Rove in his administration. The really cringing moments were when the candidates desperately tried to beat the clock out and keep talking and Matthews ruthlessly pressed on. they reminded me of hot, sweaty salesmen, running behind a bus--waving their arms and screaming "wait, wait, wait!" Sad, and not the best forum to hear any real opinions.

Also the allusions to Reagan by these men was sickening--we remember Reagan, and like him or not--he was our President--these 'hopefuls' are no Ronald Reagans or even remotely like him.

[toldyouso21]

Conservatism isn't Neo-conservatism. Why can't anyone take that concept on board? 16 years eh? I strongly doubt it, lets wait 'till a mainstream democrat bungles things up in a big way and re-evaluate. Posted by capnboost at 10:36 AM : May 04, 2007

Totalitarianism rule and a politburo. Americans don't want it, and Republicans seem to be hell bent on it--to be achieved by control by a police state--between that and torture...no thank you. As for the difference between cons and conservatives--does it matter? One are monsters and the other group are the ones who gave the monsters legitimacy and promoted the monsters--until they realized that the monsters would bite them too. So no thank you to any type of Conservative--let them be like locusts--go back underground for about 20 years until it is time to reemerge and attempt to devour the planet.

[ixoye_02]

What a poor collection of politicians!!! Most of these candidates can be accused of flip-flopping on issues yet none of them are pointing it out much like conservatives do with democrats. And those who are not flip-floppers would just assume villify their own mothers should they support something like embryonic stem cell research. These people are truly the Pharisees of our day. And it's sad that they can mislead so many with their lies

[huskerarmy]

"Mitt Romney fumbled a bit on a very predictable question about his evolution on the abortion issue, essentially repeating his answer twice in an awkward loop."
Sounded like my kid when he tries to weasel his way out of something. No, it doesn't sound any better the second time you say it...

[randalds]

The Republicans' best chance is to nominate a true conservative -- or a libertarian like Ron Paul -- who remembers what small government is about, not a "Democrat Lite" like Bush.
Posted by dcwolford at 10:50 AM : May 04, 2007

Got to agree with you there (except for the offense as a democrat I take to having anything to do with the as*s in the White House. (besides "free spending democrats" is an unfair and untrue stereotype)). I myself would love to see a return to the days when there were real republicans in the republican party. the only one on the stage that made any sense at all was Ron Paul and he's a dinosaur that the neocons would love to force out and thereby finish their hijacking of the party altogether.

[huskerarmy]

"...not a "Democrat Lite" like Bush."
Posted by dcwolford

What a funny tactic! Bush is as close to being a democrat as mother Theresa was to being a Crip. If one of ours screws things up, we'll just label him yours...

[huskerarmy]

With some very notable exceptions, the working class has in general been better served by pre Hoover GOPers and post Hoover Dems.

[perception5]

Mit IS the "fit" for "U.S." ........... 50 state swept in 2008......... write it down

[processor2]

The best candidates for today's DemoCrap party would be Lenin & Marx.

The old democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.

...

PS

A democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was

...

[processor2]

The best candidates for today's DemoCrap party would be Lenin & Marx.

The old democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.

...

PS

A democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was

...

[realpatriot1]

processor2,

Our involvement in Vietnam was initiated by Republican President Dwight Eisenhower who said, "If elections were held today,Ho Chi Minh would win 80% of the vote." He didn't even pretend that it was about democracy. You're right that it was a mistake.

The Republican cry should be,"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for Haliburton!"

[tcoleman12]

Alright, get the 35 people that like Ron Paul out because they think he will legalize pot.

Brownback did a great job and is one of the closest to a Regan conservative in the field. He just needs about 45 million other people to find out who he is.

McCain is a ******. He would sell the office of the presidency in the name of bipartisanship. No Roberts or Alitos coming from him.

[capnboost]

@ Posted by toldyouso21 at 11:07 AM : May 04, 2007

You still haven't wrapped your head around the difference. A great deal of our descent in to madness has been bipartisan. Had it not been there would have been more publicity. The dems are just as responsible for the patriot act, commissions act, etc. as the neo-cons and mainstream republicans.

Don't try to talk like your *** don't stink.

@ Posted by ixoye_02 at 12:00 PM : May 04, 2007

Are you familiar with the voting history of all of the candidates? Or is it just your opinion that they're republicans and must be dirty?

@ Posted by huskerarmy at 12:23 PM : May 04, 2007

Abortion isn't an issue that should define who gets votes and who doesn't. Frankly, i think the government is already too involved in the lives of citizens. I was under the impression that the Supreme Court has already sufficiently legislated from the bench on that subject anyway.

@ Posted by realpatriot1 at 01:24 PM : May 04, 2007

I don't think that mainstream conservatives are interested in no-bid contracts with companies they used to work for. I think you like many other people here seem to be confusing them with neo-cons.

If you could all do me a great big favor and look up "conservative" in the dictionary it might prevent any of these silly comments from continuing to pop up.

[rochest]

no big winners but big losers who are they? The shrinking disappearing middle class! Keep the tax cuts for the millionaires balance the budget on our shoulders the reason they say is anything else would be a huge tax increas. So more trickle-down economics which I call smoke and mirrors and **** down economics. What ever happened to fixing Social Security by raising the cap to 200,000 from 90,000? That would fix it for all time. too reasonable?

[realpatriot1]

capinboost,

I didn't say that conservatives are doing the bidding of Haliburton, I said Republicans. That is the current state of the republican party and from what I heard, none of these candidates has a problem with that. I could've missed somrthing.

[hawksprings]

Again, please notice the toned-down coverage of the GOP debate compared to the Wall to Wall treatment we got before, during, and after the Dembot debate.

The GOP debate isn't even the top story today here at CBS. CBS is too busy having another Obamagasm.

CBS-MSNBC-ABC-CNN is a monolithic liberal news organism.

We need three more FOXNEWS-type media outlets before it's even on the national stage.

[booyaw_77]

Well I looked up "conservative" in the dorktionary, and it says Republican.

[booyaw_77]

.. let me git de Christian dorktionary version.. just a sec.

Yup. Says Republican too.

[booyaw_77]

"Alright, get the 35 people that like Ron Paul out because they think he will legalize pot."

Oh man, that'd be awesome. Thats like half the prison population. 30-40,000 bucks a piece? Fer what? 5 years? Thats a heap'a money.

[capnboost]

@ Posted by tcoleman12 at 01:45 PM : May 04, 2007

I don't much care if pot's legal, it won't affect me a bit. I do however like for my (yes "my") politicians to obey the law.

@ Posted by Rochest at 01:58 PM : May 04, 2007

I'd rather just have all of my money back since i'm sure i could invest it better than the fed. And if i die early my kids still get the $$. I'm not a big fan of socialism what can i say?

@ Posted by realpatriot1 at 02:01 PM : May 04, 2007

Then apparently you're not looking at conservative republicans. The neo-conservatives aren't conservative.

@ Posted by hawksprings at 02:06 PM : May 04, 2007

I was all with you until you alluded to Faux news. I perfer to get the news that i think is newsworthy from all of the available networks, internet, hardcopy (that means paper), etc.

@ Posted by booyaw_77 at 02:11 PM : May 04, 2007

Oh yeah? Are you sure it didn't say "TV Guide" on the cover? I'm not going to waste any more time on you if you're unwilling (unable?) to educate yourself.

[booyaw_77]

"Oh yeah? Are you sure it didn't say "TV Guide" on the cover? I'm not going to waste any more time on you if you're unwilling (unable?) to educate yourself."

Theres that republican charm again. Dey wrote de book: How to win friends and influence people.

[booyaw_77]

All this time I've been calling french fries "piece'a shyyt taters" fer noth'n.

[capnboost]

@ Posted by booyaw_77 at 02:22 PM : May 04, 2007

That coming from the person that speaks of a reference book as a "dorktionary". I don't know if your spelling errors are intentional or not but when i read your posts i can't get the "Deliverance" theme out of my head.

Btw (By the way) in every dictionary i can find the entry for conservative reads something like this:

con7serv7a7tive /k%u0259n%u02C8s%u025Crv%u0259t%u026Av/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv]
%u2013adjective
1. disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.
2. cautiously moderate or purposefully low: a conservative estimate.
3. traditional in style or manner; avoiding novelty or showiness: conservative suit.
4. (often initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Conservative party.
5. (initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Conservative Jews or Conservative Judaism.
6. having the power or tendency to conserve; preservative.

I'm done with you now.

[booyaw_77]

Oh sorry. I thought you couldn't say ***.

[booyaw_77]

"CBS-MSNBC-ABC-CNN is a monolithic liberal news organism."

Yah, and there's that double dividend too. I gotta pay fer my cable, and I gotta watch drug commercials.

[vastr-wcon]

The "LOSER's BALL" was entertaining, as these no-chance-in-he** candidates try to hide from the past 6 years of the most corrupt, despotic, maniacal government ever - all run by Republicans.

One cannot deny that this bunch of geezer candidates is ill-suited to hold ANY public office. Stroll-through-Baghdad Loony McCain, flip-flop-- flop-flip Romney, less-than-empty-suit Guiliani, and a bunch of also-rans that have already been forgotten.

Only the feeble-minded that voted TWICE for the WORST-PRESIDENT-EVER could possibly find anything of value in this bunch. For the rest of humanity, this "debate" was a laugh riot to rival a fox faux news program.

[infidel_us]

I'm not even going to start paying attention to this stuff until October-November. If we're not careful, these b*astards will start campaigning right after the elections. I don't want that! I'm sick of this election already!!

[ramos937]

None of these Republican candidates, except Ron Paul, are listening to the American electorate. It is sick to death of this Iraq war and will vote for the candidate(s) that hold out the best promise for getting us out of Iraq in 2008. On the other hand, the Democratic candidates all (as far as I know)reflect the will of the American people and will withdraw as quickly as possible. Personally, I do not like a system where the Presidency and Congress are dominated by one party. But, if the Republicans stick to their position of no withdrawal, they are in danger of becoming extinct as a national party force. I thought they were smarter than that.

[processor2]

The best candidates for today's DemoCrap party would be Lenin & Marx.

The old democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.

...

PS

A democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was

...

[processor2]

The best candidates for today's DemoCrap party would be Lenin & Marx.

The old democrat party of:
"Ask NOT what your country can do for you, but rather what YOU can do for your country"

no longer exists.
And instead has been replaced by the concept of Big Government.

...

PS

A democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a democrat congress running the Vietnam war.
We all know what a mistake that was

...

[rochest]

capnboost

so you want to keep your money and invest it and pass the wealth down to your kids. well have you asked them if they want all of it even if it means Lots of starving seniors? After all that is what the social program was put in place to prevent. are you really that hard hearted that you can say I've got mine screw you! You really can't share the Some of the pile you've created.

[jw218389]

Bend over for a $ummer of $4.00 a gallon gas.

You GOP whiners can talk about big government all you want but the reason that Bill left the White House at 80% + approval was because he didn't $CREW the MIDDLE CLASS.

I remember gas at .77 cents a gallon in 1998!!!

Tell me how a GOP Cronies at the oil companies have helped us????

Oh that's right - by posting record profits and taking away our disposable income.

BUSH= GOP = $4.00 GAS = IRAQ = Bend OVER!!!

[processorr2]

The best candidates that the Democraps can come up with are a black and woman. lol

Everyone knows that blacks belong in the fields and women in the kitchen.

[bigsk8fan]

"Everyone knows that blacks belong in the fields and women in the kitchen." Posted by Processorr2

I should have guessed from your previous postings that you are an ignorant RACIST and SEXIST. That makes you a typical Rebublican.

"A democrat congress running the Iraq war would be like a democrat congress running the Vietnam war." Posted by processor2

What are you talking about? To really foul up a war takes a Republican. Democrats were handling the Vietnam war. Nixon surrendered. You neocons have said quite clearly recently that anyone disagreeing with the White House when going to war is anti-patriotic. That makes the loser of the Vietnam War Nixon, a Republican.

Ike was the Republican who ran the losing war in Korea. And Republican President resisted the Spanish American War until Liberal Hearst Publication Newspapers got America into a war fever pitch.

What do you expect? Bush is your ideal of a War Leader. This guy flew combat sorties safely within US borders during Vietnam. And usually he was drunk. Cheney didn't fare any better when actually having a chance to serve in military operations.

It took Democrats and Liberals to win WWII (FDR), WWI (Wilson), Civil War (Lincoln), and Revolution (Washington). Don't think you can do as much complaining about Liberals and now take credit for Lincoln. Too late Neocon!

[joenc-2009]

I think it is funny that in their efforts to "Run to Reagan", all of the GOP candidates run at top speed PAST 2 Bushes.

I wonder why none of these guys wants to be the next Bush.

Hummmmm...... very funny.

[joenc-2009]

As far as I could tell, last night's debate gave us the top ten reasons not to vote for a Republican in '08.

[joenc-2009]

This just in from the AP, the GOP's right-wing base is moving to fund stem cell research in hopes of cloning Ronald Reagan in time for the '08 elections.

Their rallying cry will be "Clone one for the Gipper!"

[kansas1946]

What a pitiful group. 10 candidates and not a keeper in the bunch. Sad..

[diverinnl]

My favorite quote of the day:

"Democrats were handling the Vietnam war. Nixon surrendered."
Posted by bigsk8fan at 05:37 PM : May 04, 2007

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The Democrats cut funding. Nixon had no choice but to pull troops out. If Congress cuts funds for Iraq, does that mean Bush surrendered? The way liberals re-write history, in 10 years it probably will.

[pakaal]

Meanwhile, no less than THREE presidential candidates, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo and Mike Huckabee said they don't even believe in evolution!

Fortunately for all concerned, the "In your opinion, is the world flat?" question remained unasked....

[a-invaderzim]

Just a suggestion about a good GOP option.

Hillary Rodham Clinton w/ Samuel L Jackson as VP? Hillary is going to be shifting to the right so the nation can be under the guidance the American Margaret Thatcher and guy with that wallet the one that says *** ******** They should be just the shot in the arm the GOP needs, plus it should drive out that nasty NeoCon infection nicely