GOP Dark Horses Fail To Gallop In Debate

(Politico)  By The Politico's Mike Murphy.

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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.
By Mike Murphy
TM & © 2007 The Politico & Politico.com, a division of Allbritton Communications Company

[mis_nomer2]

The Pentagon can get war funding from different sources and the Democrats know it. Apparently you do not. Do you actually think that congress could really leave our soldiers high and dry. I am not so naive to think so. And by the way, didntinhale, maybe you have listened to people like Annie get your guns Coulter and Rush to war Limbaugh too long.

[capnboost]

@ Posted by Rochest at 05:04 PM : May 04, 2007

Have you ever read the story about the ant and the grasshopper?

Yes, i am that hard hearted that i would rather invest my own money for bigger dividends than donate it to the government for them to give to people who have no foresight what-so-ever.

Furthermore, studies show that when the government collects fewer taxes the citizens tend to donate more to charities.

[randalds]

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.
Posted by diverinnl at 09:28 PM : May 04, 2007

Actually we cut funding to the government of South Vietnam, not to the troops, so Nixon still could have kept the troops there if he really wanted to. The difference is that Nixon finally accepted what Bush already knows about Iraq, the war was lost. Unlike Nixon though Bush wants to keep this losing cause going until after he's out of office to try to cover his as*s, no matter how many of our troops die in the process of saving his ego. Read some history, 'k?

[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

[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

[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....

[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.

[kansas1946]

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

[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!"

[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.