Wednesday?nights Republican primary debate was the first to feature flashy new frontrunner Rick Perry. How'd he do? Reviews are mixed. He had plenty of swag at the start, but he also reaffirmed that he thinks the most popular government program -- Social Security -- is a scam. Mitt Romney, by contrast, looked cool and confident and electable. The other major takeaway from the debate? Michele Bachmann's moment has passed.
Related: A Guide to Properly Insulting the 2012 GOP Candidates
It's All About Romney vs. Perry
Related: GOP Debate Preview: Hey, We're Not So Bad
Michele Bachmann?"needed to prove that the GOP contest is a three-person race," NBC News'?First Read?writes. But she didn't find a way to shine Wednesday night, and has become an "afterthought." In fact, as the Los Angeles Times' Andrew Malcolm notes, Bachmann didn't get a question till 13 minutes into the debate.
Related: Translating the Wall Street Journal's Story on Rick Perry
Perry's a Weak Debater
Related: A Brief History of the Republican Primary So Far
The Washington Post's?Aaron Blake and Chris Cillizza?called Perry's answer on global warming "pained."?ABC News'?Amy Walter?writes that Perry was like a boxer with no endurance -- He "comes out strong for the first two rounds, but then runs out of stamina by the later rounds." Romney, on the other hand, was "confident and solid" all night long, Walter writes, making him the winner.
It's a matter of attitude. Perry appeared tough, confident, able to deflect criticism, and to fire back when fired upon -- whether over jobs in Texas, or his support for vaccination. When faced with a difficult question, his strategy was to reassert his position on "gettin' America workin' again." He dealt gingerly with questions about social security and climate change, but his statements on these subjects are not going to get him in trouble with a Republican primary and caucus electorate that could cheer lustily when it was announced that during Perry?s governorship, Texas had executed 234 people.
yvette vickers yvette vickers ronald reagan sidney crosby pittsburgh penguins nhl mph
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.