Debates are "won" and "lost" on moments -- what professional wrestling writers call "spots."
There were no real moments of Frisson, except for perhaps the several occasions when God sent lightning to keep Rudy Giuliani from answering a question about the bishop of Rhode Island's criticism of his view on abortion. (You had to be there).
Which means that, all other things being equal, Gov. Mike Huckabee did the best for himself on this mellow night.
Asked a Blitzerianly blunt question about evolution, he responded with a pastor's passion and humor and even John McCain, who clearly does believe in evolution, was moved.
Three debates, three worthy performances for Huckabee. Unfortunately, none of these debates have been widely broadcast in Iowa, and Huckabee's organization seems uncapable, as of yet, of harnessing his hard work during the debates. It's also true that the media refuses to give Huckabee the respect he might deserve, but it's an ontological question: which comes first: media coverage or public support? Maybe some of the Fred T. abstainer conservatives will give Huckabee a second (third? fourth?) look?
McCain's easy command on national security issues drew the evening's first applause when he criticized Hillary Clinton for calling Iraq "Bush's war." His immigration straight talk was clearly unpopular with the audience, but he got his points across. His answer to a NHer's question about ending the war in Iraq was moving, and the CNN cutaway showed that the questioner was moved. A very good night for him, too. At times, he was noticeably in a league of his own.
Giuliani linked Iraq to the broader war on terror and kept accusing Democrats of burying their heads in the sand. To John Edwards he said "This war is not a bumper sticker. This war is a real war." Giuliani called the immigration bill a "mess" and was steadfast -- steadfast in his refusal to propose a comprehensive solution. At least he stayed close to the question, though. In fact, if you put abortion aside, of the three leading Republican candidates, Giuliani placed himself squarely in the center of the Republican coalition in New Hampshire.
Mitt Romney did not answer the night's low-blog question, about his Spanish language campaign website and campaign ads. Did not even come close to an answer. "I am not anti-immigrant," he began, and he went off the rails from there. McCain answered the question for him, and earned loud applause: the contributions of Hispanics, he said, ought to be valued, and they should never feel unwelcome. This will no doubt anger elite conservatives who don't like to be called nativist and give cheer to moderate Republicans, indepedents, and the press.
The most fortuitious event of the night was the random drawing that arrayed Romney, Giuliani and McCain next to each other on the stage, giving us a wonderful opportunity to examine the body language of, say, Mitt Romney when John McCain was talking. The much-anticipated clash between McCain and Romney on immigration came 28 minutes in, although it was Giuliani, showing he was up to snuff on the details of the legislaiton, who came away with the applause lines.
You'd never know that Giuliani, as mayor of NYC, was adamant that he didn't have to enforce immigraton laws.
Through McCain's answer on immigration -- a Full McCain classic with phrases like "come together" and "Democrat and Republican" -- Romney smirked, as if he were enjoying watching a slow motion train wreck. But he seemed chagrined that Giuliani, not him, was given the chance to rebut.
Giuliani invented a new way of refusing to answer questions by saying that in times of war, certain issues were trivial, like amending the law to allow gays in the military. Fine -- but what does Giuliani personally think about _gays_ in_the_military?
Duncan Hunter, apparently, was the only candidate to read the 2002 NIE.
Brownback promised to sketch out a Biden-esque Iraq plan tomorrow.
Tancredo -- vowed to "go after any Republican" who votes in favor of the immigration legislation.
Tommy Thompson yelled all night.
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Frisson, perhaps?
Posted by Dave Schuler | June 6, 2007 6:35 AM