Keller @ Large: Not An Ordinary Election Year

BOSTON (CBS) - Did you enjoy Thursday night's GOP presidential debate?

In any ordinary election year, this would be considered a disaster on multiple fronts.

First and foremost, it was made crystal clear that the many gifts of frontrunner Donald Trump - his showmanship and bravado and alertness to the frustrations of many voters – are unaccompanied by any real grasp of policy detail or of the gap between his political statements and his own business practices.

When he was called out on it, he responded with bluster, name-calling and, at times, outright denial that he had ever said things he's documented as having said.

In any ordinary year, that wouldn't fly.

Secondly, we saw Marco Rubio pretending his moments of actual moderation and efforts at compromise never happened.

Instead, that person has been replaced with a hardliner, on immigration and other issues. Still, he was more forceful and in command than in any other debate, qualities voters say they want.

In any ordinary year, Rubio helped himself Thursday night.

Thirdly, Ted Cruz was on a mission to expose the sketchy underpinnings of Trump's conservatism, noting his ties to liberal politicians and track record of liberal positions.

Given the conservative nature of the primary electorate, that ought to help Cruz and hurt Trump.

In any ordinary year, it would.

In any ordinary year, a filthy-rich showboating real-estate magnate, however entertaining, wouldn't get a sniff of a major party nomination.

But this is no ordinary year.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

Watch: Jon's WBZ-TV commentary: