I think Romney won the debate. He sounded presidential, talking about the importance of leadership, and looked presidential. I couldn’t care less that he’s a Mormon. What I do worry about is his economic competence although he supposedly has the background in this area according to…himself. What should we make of his Romney Care package in Massachusetts? Many say it has not been a success, so why didn’t Perry pursue this more? Also, Romney’s attitude toward China seems a bit troubling. And so far he appears to speak in generalities despite his detailed, multi-pronged proposal for job growth.
Perry was a disappointment even from the perspective of a non-supporter, not appearing in command at all but rather timid and on the defensive, accompanied by an energy mantra as a solution to the job problem; while Gingrich behaved like the elder statesman of the group, often praising others’ remarks and fostering once again party unity for the purpose of defeating Obama. Cain was a broken record with his 999 plan, and his praise of former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan was odd. Huntsman is a non-entity in this race, and Bachmann and Santorum, while both sounding sincere in their beliefs, didn’t seem to have the “gravitas” needed for the nomination, at least in the economic arena. Paul expressed his usual libertarian views, which most people probably don’t really understand anyway.