Winners and Losers from the Fox News South Carolina GOP Presidential Debate – 1/16/12

Watch Complete Video of the Debate.

The Fox News South Carolina GOP Presidential Debate just ended, and it was a truly combative, back and forth debate. I think it was the best debate so far.

From the outset, Rick Santorum went after Mitt Romney. Romney has opened up a sizable lead in South Carolina, but tonight’s debate just might change those numbers.

I believe Newt Gingrich was the clear winner of the debate. He had one strong answer after another, at one point even getting a standing ovation – the first in all the debates this Presidential season. Gingrich returned to the form that sent him to the top of the GOP Field, focusing on his strong views and hammering Barack Obama.

Santorum made some good points in back and forth with Romney, but I don’t think he set himself apart as the alternative to Romney. Gingrich will likely get the bump in the polls from this debate, and he already leads Santorum in South Carolina and Florida.

Rick Perry had his best debate yet, having a number of very strong answers that got a lot of applause from the crowd. He should get a bump in the polls, but likely not enough to really be a major factor in South Carolina.

Ron Paul continued to be consistent in his Foreign Policy views, but this was a decidedly less friendly crowd for him. His blaming the United States Foreign Policy for the attacks of terrorists on the country brought boos from the crowd, and gave his opponents “Nerf-ball” opportunities to come across as strongly supportive of the military. You have to give Paul credit for being consistent in his views, even if you think his views – particularly on Foreign Policy – are completely wrong.

Mitt Romney was not as strong tonight. He was off his game. I don’t think he made any mortal gaffes, but he seemed nervous and not as confident as he usually does. He knew he would be the pinata tonight, and I think that had an effect on him. The first hour was the roughest for him, but he did have some strong answers, opposing negotiating with the Taliban, and opposing voting rights for convicted felons, and kept the damage to a minimum.

So, if I had to rank the performances tonight, it would be: (1) Newt Gingrich (2) Rick Perry (3) Rick Santorum (4) Mitt Romney (5) Ron Paul.

How would you rank the performances tonight?

Posted by Brian on Monday, January 16th, 2012   |   10 Comments »
Tags: , , ,
  • Geoffrey

    Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich are coming away winners, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry are neither here nor there (best performances, but its a little late for SC), and Mitt Romney is coming away a major loser after this one. If I HAD to order it SPECIFICALLY for SC 1) Newt Gingrich 2) Ron Paul 3) Rick Santorum 4) Rick Perry 5) Mitt Romney (nationally Ron beats out Newt by quite a margin). And let’s not forget the twitter responses to the candidates answer/dodge ratio, Mitt certainly dodged the most, and New and Paul seem to be the candidates answering the questions, with most “answers” going to Paul followed by Newt.

  • Anonymous

    Rick Perry in the number 2 slot????  If you switch out your number 2 and 4 you’d be closer.

  • Anonymous

    Rick Perry in the number 2 slot????  If you switch out your number 2 and 4 you’d be closer.

  • Anonymous

    Rick Perry in the number 2 slot????  If you switch out your number 2 and 4 you’d be closer.

  • Conservative

    Romney’s answers were all strong and I would put him just behind Gingrich in this debate especially since he had the most air time of anyone.  Regardless, Gingrich will be hurt by his anti-Bain Capital rhetoric.  All Republicans support capitalism and those that understand private equity know it is instrumental in saving businesses and jobs and those companies that fail would were already on the edge and would have already failed if they had not swooped in to try and turn things around and save them for as long as they did!

  • Tbuk649

    Ron Paul really hurt himself tonight, Perry did not. Rommney sounded like he was being interrogeted under a 500 w bulb, and he did not connect. Like when you come to a RR crossing. Stop Look and Listen . Perry makes the most sense of all. Watch last debate Sat befpre you make up your mind.

  • Tbuk649

    I would be in RP’s corner but for his foreign policy. You just can’t abandon all our troops……What would happen if we left korea…..Perry makes the most sense.

  • Anonymous

    You should be in Ron Paul’s corner if only for his foreign policy. Our military overwhelmingly support Paul and they know just how deep we’re in. Now with NDAA - America is dissolving before our eyes. Ron Paul 2012     

  • Anonymous

    I’ve watched every single debate.  

    Saying someone “did not connect” is very vague, what does it mean?  It seems to imply some kind of emotional reaction that you can’t possibly know about for millions of viewers.  Since he’s the front runner it would seem that he does in fact “connect”.  Perry has the easiest time in these debates because no one asks him hard questions anymore.  They know he doesn’t have anything to say other than some sound bites that may not even pertain to the question.

  • Suz0805w

    I’m rooting for Romney but in last night’s debate Romney was up tight and had a look of indulgence when the others spoke.  He should drop that look.  Gingrich comes off as just plain mean spriited and a bit dictatorial.  Perry is just rhetorical and short on details, as if he can’t quite master them.  Paul is Paul, an anti war isolationist.  All the flat taxers hide the VAT lurking when their lower tax rates are adopted.


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