The debate among the top ten GOP presidential contenders just ended on Fox News. It has a lot of highs and lows, and some candidates did a great job. Others...not so much.
In my view, the best performance was turned in by Marco Rubio. Every answer he gave was clear, on point and filled with substance. (I also liked what he had to say.) Rubio's message was also clear; he clearly claimed the title as the candidate of the future. It was not just his youth, but his points as well. He kept saying again and again that things have changed and we need someone (him) to deal with the new reality. It was a masterful performance.
The worst performance is also easy to choose. That title goes to Rand Paul. Some of Paul's answers gave the impression that he had not been paying attention and did not know what the question had been. Indeed, Paul managed to answer the question he had been asked less than half the time he spoke. It's too bad that Carly Fiorina was in the 5 o'clock group instead of senator Paul. Maybe by next time that will be corrected.
Another strong performance was turned in by senator Cruz who had his only really weak moment in his closing statement which took a bizarre turn. Governor Scott Walker also did quite well. He was direct and responsive and seemed knowledgeable.
The third tier which also did well included governor Kasich of Ohio and governor Christie of New Jersey. Both he good moments, but both went into canned remarks on occasion, and it showed. Mike Huckabee and Jeb Bush also gave performances that had both good and not so good moments. Bush started extremely weak but gained strength as the night went on. Huckabee was too strident at times, and his good humor was not enough to overcome the substance of what he was saying.
That leaves Dr. Carson and Donald Trump. Both had nights best described as strange. Carson gave a great answer about why being a neurosurgeon kept him from speaking much about race. That answer, however, could not overcome some other places where he seemed out of his element. Trump, of course, was pure Trump. He managed to threaten Megyn Kelly when he did not like a question she asked him. He had few details on substance; he kept saying that he would do something, but he never told us how. In fairness, with only one minute to answer, there is no way that Trump could give substance. Trump's temper did leak out on occasion, but it's hard to know if that hurt him. One thing that Trump did, however, which I believe will hurt him was his refusal to agree to support the ultimate nominee of the GOP if it is not him.
All things considered, it was a very good debate.
In my view, the best performance was turned in by Marco Rubio. Every answer he gave was clear, on point and filled with substance. (I also liked what he had to say.) Rubio's message was also clear; he clearly claimed the title as the candidate of the future. It was not just his youth, but his points as well. He kept saying again and again that things have changed and we need someone (him) to deal with the new reality. It was a masterful performance.
The worst performance is also easy to choose. That title goes to Rand Paul. Some of Paul's answers gave the impression that he had not been paying attention and did not know what the question had been. Indeed, Paul managed to answer the question he had been asked less than half the time he spoke. It's too bad that Carly Fiorina was in the 5 o'clock group instead of senator Paul. Maybe by next time that will be corrected.
Another strong performance was turned in by senator Cruz who had his only really weak moment in his closing statement which took a bizarre turn. Governor Scott Walker also did quite well. He was direct and responsive and seemed knowledgeable.
The third tier which also did well included governor Kasich of Ohio and governor Christie of New Jersey. Both he good moments, but both went into canned remarks on occasion, and it showed. Mike Huckabee and Jeb Bush also gave performances that had both good and not so good moments. Bush started extremely weak but gained strength as the night went on. Huckabee was too strident at times, and his good humor was not enough to overcome the substance of what he was saying.
That leaves Dr. Carson and Donald Trump. Both had nights best described as strange. Carson gave a great answer about why being a neurosurgeon kept him from speaking much about race. That answer, however, could not overcome some other places where he seemed out of his element. Trump, of course, was pure Trump. He managed to threaten Megyn Kelly when he did not like a question she asked him. He had few details on substance; he kept saying that he would do something, but he never told us how. In fairness, with only one minute to answer, there is no way that Trump could give substance. Trump's temper did leak out on occasion, but it's hard to know if that hurt him. One thing that Trump did, however, which I believe will hurt him was his refusal to agree to support the ultimate nominee of the GOP if it is not him.
All things considered, it was a very good debate.
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