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Scott Audette / Reuters
Republican presidential candidates former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney shake hands prior to the start of the Republican presidential candidates debate in Jacksonville, Florida, January 26, 2012.
Romney had a strong night … Santorum may have won the debate … But that only helps Romney … All three Republicans are a net-negative in NBC/WSJ poll. … Romney’s image has been hurt by the primary … But the tide has turned in Florida, and Romney’s the front runner again there … Revenge of the establishment on Gingrich … Romney, Gingrich and friends spending $22 million in Fla. … And welcome Caleb Fenne Murray!!!
Read the original: First Thoughts: Romney owned Gingrich, but problems linger
*** Romney owned Gingrich…: If Mitt Romney wins the nomination, we'll look back and say the first hour of last night’s debate and say that was when he finally put it away. Romney dominated Newt Gingrich -- from the opening barbs over immigration to his effective response to Gingrich on Freddie/Fannie money (“Mr. Speaker have you checked your own investments?”) to squashing Gingrich’s attempt to co-opt the audience once again (“Wouldn’t it be nice if people wouldn’t make accusations somewhere else that they aren’t willing to make here?”). Romney was aggressive without being petulant. He finally looked comfortable sparring. He looked for the first time like he deserved the moniker “front runner” on stage. And it certainly helped that he had a new debate coach. Romney just wasn’t the same guy.
*** …But Santorum at least rented Romney: That said, the winner of the CONSERVATIVE debate was Rick Santorum. He ended up forcing Romney to defend health care in the same language President Obama uses. It’s amazing that with all the candidates chasing Romney, none has been able go box in Romney on health care and the mandate the way Santorum did last night. Romney still has trouble, and will likely continue to have trouble, explaining his logic on why government intervention on health care is OK at the state level but not the federal. Romney still didn’t fix his conservative problem; he has simply made the others look like worse alternatives. Santorum was also strong in his closing case to distinguish himself from the two front runners and scored points when he chided Gingrich and Romney for their attacks on each other -- for Gingrich’s work as a consultant and Romney’s private-sector work. Santorum defended both and went for the high ground: "Leave that alone and focus on the issues," he said. (Of course, part of why Santorum defended “consulting” is because he was one, too.) Santorum’s hoping for that classic rule of politics: A attacks B and C benefits. Of course, Romney camp is thrilled either way -- the better Santorum does, the better for Romney, because Santorum takes votes away from Gingrich. And, by the way, for the first time in a long time at a debate, Ron Paul seemed to be having fun. His politicians to the moon line got big laughs. Hey, “60 Minutes,” shouldn’t Paul be the frontrunner to replace Andy Rooney?
*** It wasn’t all good for Romney: He made at least three unforced errors – (1) He opened himself up on his “blind trust” Fannie and Freddie answer. He effectively responded to Gingrich noting Gingrich’s investment in Fannie and Freddie Mac, but he flubbed the details of his own Frannie/Freddie investment. He said it was in a “blind trust.” But it wasn’t, as the Boston Globe reported; (2) He didn’t know his campaign has a radio ad running statewide hitting Gingrich on his “language of the ghetto” comment – even though Romney signs off and approves the ad at the end in Spanish; and (3) He had this awkward spin on why he voted for Paul Tsongas: "I've never voted for a Democrat when there was a Republican on the ballot." What might the late senator say – maybe: "Don't be a panderrr bear.” By the way, wasn’t President Bush on the primary ballot that day in Massachusetts too?
Republican presidential contenders are in a race against time to try to garner support before Tuesday's primary in the Sunshine state. NBC's David Gregory reports on the latest on the fight for Florida.
*** NBC/WSJ poll… All three Republicans negative: The most important item in the NBC/WSJ poll was that all three Republican candidates are a net-negative when it comes to favorability. Romney was exposed in two ways in the poll – (1) he has a conservative problem staring him right in the face. That hasn’t changed. Any time base conservatives -- very conservative voters, Tea Partiers, Southerners, feels there’s a viable alternative to Romney, they rally around that person; we’ve seen this phenomenon for months. And (2) The primary has done damage to Romney. He cannot afford a long primary. If this thing goes to June, that would be very problematic. He’s already in a bad position. George W. Bush, John McCain, and Bob Dole were all in primary fights and ALL were a net-POSITIVE at this time in the election cycle. In the past 20 years in the poll, no one who went on to be the major party nominee of either party with a net-negative at this point – except John Kerry, and we all know how that turned out. Clearly, Romney is looking like he’s getting his momentum back, but he has fundamental problems for the general. The primary has done him no good. (Here’s our story on the poll, how the candidate match up with Obama, and the GOP brand problem.)
*** The tide turned in Florida: Speaking of that Romney momentum. A new Quinnipiac poll is out in Florida showing what seemed to be happening yesterday – that Romney’s retaken a sizable lead. He’s up 38%-29% over Gingrich. And the candidates’ rhetoric was evidence of the change yesterday. Gingrich leveled some of his harshest attacks on Romney on the trail yesterday, but Romney kept his focus on President Obama. Watch Gingrich carefully today, he could just unload. How he handles himself today is going to tell us a lot. By the way, Gingrich being unwilling to defend his Swiss Bank comments in the debate was a bad moment. Flashbacks to Tim Pawlenty’s missed opportunity on Romney.
*** Revenge of the Establishment: If Romney’s the nominee, we may look back this week as the week the establishment rescued him. Take a look at the cavalry that’s come to Romney’s rescue in Florida. John McCain is doing solo-town halls. Jason Chaffetz is following Gingrich around the state and picking fights with his staff. Bob Dole is writing letters attacking Gingrich. Marco Rubio, who is supposedly neutral, is playing referee in the state and constantly calling fouls on Newt… Bottom line: as many predicted post-South Carolina, if Newt actually looked like he was one primary win away from delivering a near-knockout blow to Romney, a significant group of folks would begin rallying to his defense. Or in this case, simply rallying to stop Gingrich.
*** Romney, Gingrich (and friends) spending the $22 million in Florida: The latest ad spending totals show Romney, Gingrich and Super PACs supporting them spending almost $22 million in Florida. Romney and Restore Our Future have outspent Gingrich and Winning Our Future about 4-to-1. The Super PACs, by themselves, have spent so far a combined $12 million, according to Republican ad tracker Smart Media Group Delta. The pro-Gingrich one, Winning Our Future, promises to spend another $2 million before Tuesday (to get up to that $6 million promised, but they haven’t booked buys YET). NBC’s Michael Isikoff takes a deep look at Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate and principal funder of Winning Our Future. Here are the numbers:
- Pro-Romney: $15.7 million (Restore Our Future $8.8m; Romney: $6.9m)
- Pro-Gingrich: $3.9 million (Winning Our Future: $2.8m; Gingrich: $1.1m)
*** Welcome Caleb Fenne Murray! Caleb Fenne Murray, with a head of dark hair and hazel eyes, came into the world at 12:40 pm ET yesterday, weighing in at 8 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. Caleb’s middle name -- Fenne (pronounced like Penny and derivative of Fennigan) -- is in honor of Sasha's late maternal grandfather. A long-time journalist at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Fenne's love of journalism and politics inspired his daughter and grandchildren to always pursue the story and never be afraid to ask questions. Congratulations Mark and Sasha!!!
*** On the trail: All candidates (with the exception of Paul) blitz the Sunshine State. Santorum visits Miami … Romney rallies in Titusville, Orlando and Miami … Gingrich stumps in Miami and Delray Beach … Meanwhile, Paul is en route to Maine, campaigning in Bangor, Waterville and Lewiston, ahead of its caucus.
Countdown to Florida primary: 5 days
Countdown to Nevada caucuses: 9 days
Countdown to Super Tuesday: 40 days
Countdown to Election Day: 285 days
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Leave a Comment:
forgive me NBC, but weren't there four people in last nights debate?
At every primary debate, those debating turn to Dr. Paul and agree with what he has just said. The debaters don't agree with each-other, they do agree with Dr. Paul; and they try to ride along on his coat-tails and diminish Dr. Paul's thunder.
The audience almost always shows major agreement with Dr. Paul.
It seems to me that Dr. Paul is the winner of the debates!
The media flatly refuses to acknowledge this fact.
My questions to the American people:
Why are you allowing this to happen?
Why aren't the rest of you making this observation in print and calling for the only non-Obama clone on the stage to be the Republican Candidate for President of the United States of America?
This is important folks!
Why are we allowing the media to refuses to acknowledge the winner of the debates and the only real candidate, the candidate that the Republicans and the Democrats BOTH fear will bring REAL change to Washington?
Why, when even many liberals like Dr. Paul because of his stand for The Revival of the United States Constitution, are we allowing the top of the Republican Machine, and the media, to dictate some lesser person as the true Republican candidate?
Although I am not a republician, I like ron paul because he gives answers that he believe are honest. To his credit he does not do a lot of pandering. However, he is very funny at times but I would not want to see him as president.
I would never vote for someone like rp. I do think he has more intergrity than the other republician candidates.
Let's face reality here, this country is not ready for the kind of change that rp has to offer. No body see him as a threat. He already stated that he does not see himslf as president.
He is the turtle in the race, all of the others are like the rabbit. Going nowhere fast. If rp keep running eventually he might win, but it won't be this election cycle.
Happy Friday everyone! I will be voting for the current POTUS. However, if I was not, Ron Paul would have my vote! I miss my grandpa; too cute :-).
Because he PROMISED to do in his second term what he PROMISED to do in his FIRST term?
Amazing!
Because he signed a bill that allows him to snatch you, or your kid, off the street, without a trial, or even acknowledging that there was a kidnapping, by the government, that he wanted since 2009?
"if I was not, Ron Paul would have my vote! I miss my grandpa; too cute"
Not cute, Kay.
Think Harry S. Truman, a man who stepped-up-to-the-plate, and got done what needed to be done, despite the grumblings of anyone.
And truthbeingtold, Ron Paul does not see himself as President of the United States because he is unreported by the media, completely ignored even though the other candidates agree with what he says, and unwanted by the Democrats and the Republican Machine because, they know that with President Paul, it will no longer be business as usual, and screwing the American people.
LOVE MITT ROMNEY!!!!! Santorum is a closet case.
Romney may own NEWT...........BUT............Obama owns Romney. There will not be a President Romney.
President Obama will do to Romney ,what he did to McOldGeezer and Barracuda.....
Hate Mitt Romney and all his Bull! Obama will clean the floor with him and the rest of the country will too.
lenono
A replican t-bagger said :
Romney/Rubio 2012
u said somethin I can agree with
A Mexican Descendent (Light in the Loafers ) Romney whose dad George was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and a Cuban Descendent running the U.S.
Still have not figured out why no-one has said anything about George running for President when he was not a natural born citizen of U.S.
Just a replican thing I suppose?
They did not say anything about Pain McCain who was born in Panama. Therefore not a natural born citizen.
Please Google: Natural Born Citizen ( one born in solis, of the soil) Person born in U.S. of America
Romney owned ging-rich the lizard
Then he found out about some Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and had to free him.
Problems remain:
newt(the lizard) ging-rich wants his mule and section of land.