NH Debate Reactions: Fred Wins

Posted on January 5, 2008

But I saw that as a pretty bad night for Mitt Romney. I think he was outflanked on immigration by McCain and Giuliani — that’s not easy to do. And you can tell that nobody on that stage likes him. He’s a frontrunner here, so he can expect the heat, but so is John McCain, and yet everyone rushed to defend McCain and attack Romney. Why would Romney say he likes mandates? How could he have let Fred Thompson best him on a debate over healthcare? Just a few of the many questions he’s going to have to sort out, against the backdrop of some McCain momentum in New Hampshire?

They also give bonus points to Fred Thompson for intellectual honesty.

Bryan Preston:

A man of few words, Fred Thompson, but the few words he does use, he uses well. Here he whacks at both John McCain and Rudy Giuliani for their illegal immigration policies.

Michelle Malkin who followed it all live:

Thompson succinctly shoots down oil company demagoguery from WMUR anchor. What about their profits? Fred: I take note of their profits. I take note of their losses. Itâ€™s supply and demand.

Blogs for Fred Thompson points out:

Did Mike Huckabee really support the President’s surge in Iraq early on? He claimed to have done so in tonight’s debate. This video, from January 24, 2007, seems to contradict that assertion:

My wife liked McCain’s answer on health care, and was annoyed at how much time they gave Romney to talk and how much he hogged it. Overall she nodded and agreed with Fred Thompson the most. However, Rudy actually made many valid points on the WOT that we both agreed with as well. Overall, including my obvious bias, I think Fred won. However, despite my bias, I think he won with all honesty.Depending on who you ask though…it was either Romney or Fred.

Marc Ambinder says it was Fred:

On points, Fred Thompson won the debate.

Every answer was thoughtful and well-crafted; his tone matched the tone of the question; he wisely refrained from interjecting in the back and forth squabbling. He very deftly reminded viewers that he served on key Senate national security panels and is bringing his experience to bear. Even his insults were subtly and gently constructed In some ways, Thompson did McCainâ€™s bidding. You skeptical readers can tell me that if Thompson had finished a solid fourth in Iowa, I might not be writing about Thompson at all, that said, he’s still a candidate, and his performance tonight tells me his mind is not elsewhere.

Romney sounded like a hose, unbent, finally released after months of building up pressureâ€¦ his vast intellectual energy gushes forthâ€¦ but he sounded almost too unfocusedâ€¦ the water, to continue the metaphor, sprayed everywhere. He was backed into a corner on mandates in health care by Fred Thompson. He gave strong answers on energy independence toward the end. He was a target all night, though, for everyone.

While others (biased already however) say Mitt won, it was definitely a Mitt pile-on.

Dan Riehl, who’s biased for Romney is about like my bias for Fred, says Romney wins as well.

My friend Rick Moran says it was a “Hit Mitt” night, yet Mitt survived…has this to say of Fred:

Fred was at home in this format and showed it. He was sharp as a tack and actually quite eloquent at times. He skewered Romney on health care, flustering the former governor to the point that he actually said he liked health insurance mandates. And his dismissive answer about oil company profits was vintage Fred.

I wish Fred had engaged the other candidates more in the sidebars and back and forths. Nevertheless, many, including Marc Ambinder, thought Fred won. Perhaps, but it wonâ€™t do him any good in New Hampshire. Elsewhere â€“ like South Carolina or even Michigan â€“ weâ€™ll have to see.

MacRanger agrees that Fred was the winner and that it was a Mitt pile-on.

Bit’s Blog agrees that Fred wins and adds:

Huckbee got a few licks in on Romney, too. In that contest it was hard to know who to cheer for. McCain apparently got caught up in the back and forth, meanwhile, and came off looking like a blithering idiot. Vindictive, nasty, and just not presidentialâ€¦ I canâ€™t help wondering if heâ€™s damaged himself tonight. (I grant, mind, that Huck and Romney didnâ€™t show all that well, either, in that regard.

Andy McCarthy:

Rich and Mark Steyn are right, and I was wrong. I always think itâ€™s strange when the great athletes talk about letting the game come to them. But thatâ€™s how this format worked for Fred, and when called on he did great. I thought his explanation of healthcare economics was staggeringly good â€” I donâ€™t see how you could do it better in this format. And when he went into trial lawyer mode, cross-examining the other candidates, he did in the effective way â€” no screaming, but pressing (patiently but insistently) for an answer. Very nicely done.

Bryan Preston:

Fred wins. He said the least but what he said was most worth listening to. He managed to come across as the sage in the race, too wise to get into the fray but not above smacking the kids around when he has to.

Peter Robinson:

With respect to Brother Jonathan, in my judgment Fred Thompson turned in a very fine performance, the more effective for proving underplayed. The others fought, bickered, attempted to demonstrate their brains. Naturally enough, they commanded the viewer’s immediate attention. But did they look like chief executives of a great nation? Or like candidates for a student council? Thompson stood, in effect, to one side, quiet and dignified, speaking less often, perhaps, but with cogency and principle. Thompson alone conveyed a sense of gravitas. He looked, spoke, and comported himself like a president.

My Pet Jawa congrats Fred too.

John Hawkins, who is supposed to take weekends off:

1) Fred Thompson (Winner): Very sober, very conservative, but slightly sleepy. That was good for a victory in a low energy debate without a lot of exciting quips.

My overall analysis of the debates. Huckabee, probably purposefully, fell into the shadows. Romney hogged every minute of the spotlight he could soak up, and like my wife said, it was noticeable and got on my nerves. It was revealing as to what motivates him. Fred broke through several times for me, and McCain broke through a few times too. Overall, Fred wins.

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