Ken Berwitz
Here are my thoughts about last night\’s debate.
First off, I congratulate Neil Cavuto and Maria Bartiromo on an excellent job. With relatively few lapses, and all of them of short duration, they kept the focus of this debate on issues, not the ludicrous playground-quality attacks that dominated earlier debates. Yes, there were some. But the lion\’s share of time was spent with candidates stating their positions on issues that will mean something to us if any of the seven participants wind up in the Oval Office.
Regarding the candidates themselves, every one of them – no exceptions – came across at least as well as they did in previous debates – Jeb Bush, in particular.
Here is a quick sketch of each candidate, going from left to right (not in their political views, but in their placement on the stage):
John Kasich – His strategy was to continually remind people of his successes (and they are substantial) in congress and as Ohio\’s Governor. This makes a lot of sense…although Mr. Kasich\’s presentation – unexciting, even tedious – did not help things. That\’s too bad, because he would probably make a very good President. But you have to sell the electorate to get there, and I doubt that he did.Chris Christie – Very strong performance. Showed a grasp of issues, and sounded like a regular guy, but one who actually knew more than a few cheer-inspiring sound bites (i.e. what Donald Trump gives us). But I wish he would stop prefacing just about everything he says with “the fact is”. The more someone says that, the more it sounds like we\’re being sold a bill of goods. Facts don\’t need constant reassurance that they are facts.Marco Rubio – Also a very strong performance, though the first couple of times he spoke sounded like he took uppers before heading onstage. Rubio is the most verbally facile of these seven, and has a very strong grasp of issues – or, at any rate, sound bites that suggest he does. A number of things Rubio said about his opponents – particularly Chris Christie – were challenged for accuracy, and I admit I\’m not certain whether those challenges have any validity. I\’ll try to find out.Donald Trump – In terms of substance, the best debate he has had. But, speaking frankly, that brings him from maybe 3% to about 12%. He is still a circus show of barroom-loudmouth comments, accompanied by ridiculously childish facial expressions and head movements. That said, however, there is no doubt that he commands the center ring, and no doubt that a lot of what he says taps into deeply held feelings shared by a lot of people…including more democrats than the Democrat Party would like to admit.Ted Cruz – Cruz did very well. He, like Rubio, is glib and smart. Cruz defended himself well against a number of attacks – though, despite some positive audience reaction (remember, these are South Carolina Republicans), he came across as ridiculous on his “New York Values” comment. Too bad that, with 7 candidates and only a little more than 2 hours, there was not more discussion of Cruz\’s stands on social issues – stands that sometimes make my skin crawl.Ben Carson – Same old same old. Very smart man, sneaky-fast in his comments (he sounds like he\’s meandering and then, badaboom, there\’s that strong, well-spoken opinion). But the truth, as I see it anyway, is that Dr. Carson is way, way out of his element. Being a brilliant, world-class pediatric neurosurgeon does not make Ben Carson presidential material any more than a great president should be in an operating room doing brain surgery on a child.Jeb Bush – As noted earlier, this was his best performance to date. And by plenty. Instead of trying to insert pre-determined, rehearsed zingers against Trump into his answers – which Bush has exactly zero talent for doing, and did it ever show – Bush talked policy and experience. Recent polls show him gaining ground in Iowa. If this debate performance can be used to promote him there, and he winds up in the top three, even in the top two, it could give his campaign a much-needed rejuvenation.
Oh, did I mention that Hillary Clinton – and, to a lesser extent Bernard “Bernie” Sanders – got creamed last night? Or that the obviously pro-Republican audience loved it? Just thought I\’d toss that in…
