Tonight’s GOP Presidential debate in Arizona proved once again how vapid the Republican field of candidates is, but if anything, Newt Gingrich probably did the best; Mitt Romney held his own, which should help him in the upcoming primaries over the the next twelve days; Ron Paul showed courage in speaking up against the use of force overseas, and a rush to judgment about what to do in Iran; and Rick Santorum failed to impress, but received a “free pass” on controversial social views, by not being challenged on his growing use of religious dogma and invocation of Satan. Also, his great ability to laugh and smile helped him look undisturbed, and is his greatest asset by far.
In that sense, the debate was disappointing, and it is still going to have to wait for the judgment of Republican voters in 14 states.
The sense was that the audience in Mesa, Arizona favored Mitt Romney, so while all of the GOP choices are lacking, it could be a sign that Romney will recover from what looked like a possible disaster in the next two weeks.
Only time will tell, and it keeps a sane voter on tenterhooks as to who the Republican Party will offer as the alternative to Barack Obama.