Rating the Winners and Losers of the Iowa GOP Presidential Debate – 8/11/11

Tonight’s GOP Presidential Debate in Iowa on Fox News could not have been more different than previous debates. The debate was far more interesting as the candidates began to go after each other.

I thought Newt Gingrich stood out above all the candidates tonight, speaking with great force and clarity on question after question. Gingrich also took Fox News’ Chris Wallace to the woodshed for opening up with a “gotcha” question about his campaign staff leaving him. He did it later in the debate as well, calling the questions “Mickey Mouse” rather than giving the candidates a real chance to say what they would do to turn the nation around.

Rick Santorum also had a great night. He was passionate in his answers, and stood up to Ron Paul’s blaming of the United States for “not minding our own business” when it comes to Iran and the Middle East. Santorum made the case forcefully for the danger Iran poses to America, Israel, and the entire world.

Mitt Romney only helped himself in this debate. No GOP Candidate really laid a glove on him tonight. He appeared Presidential and in control – exactly what a frontrunner wants to do.

Michele Bachmann stood strong on principle, but it was clear she and Tim Pawlenty just don’t like each other. Pawlenty went after Bachmann, and it really did not work for him. Bachmann blasted him for being more like Barack Obama in what he did while Governor of Minnesota. He did not like it, and attacked her as having no record of accomplishment. I just don’t think the back and forth did Pawlenty any good. But when he had another chance to go after Mitt Romney, Pawlenty looked weak once again.

Herman Cain did well, but did not really stand out in any way. He really needed to do so leading up to the Iowa Straw Poll.

Jon Huntsman was terrible most of the night. He did have once really good answer in talking about the need to end the “reign of terror” of the out-of-control EPA. But he just did not come across well on television to me.

Ron Paul was – Ron Paul. He’s 75 years old, and he relishes his role in this process. He had his usual following cheering wildly at every opening of his mouth. Paul pushed his isolationist Foreign Policy once again, taking the incomprehensible position that it’s none of our business whether Iran obtains Nuclear Weapons or not. He drew the analogy with how we co-existed for decades with the Soviets having thousands of Nuclear Weapons. The difference, which Paul does not recognize, is that Iran is controlled by radical Muslims who are ready and willing to die in a Jihad against Israel and America!!!! In fact, many of their leaders want such a jihad. That is one small detail that makes a huge difference.

If I had to pick the biggest winners, it would be Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Mitt Romney. The real loser was Tim Pawlenty, in my view. He came into this debate needing to do very well – perhaps to survive after the Straw Poll, and he just did not.

Just my two cents. How would you rate the winners and losers?