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Who Won the GOP Debate?

September 8, 2011 RSS Feed Print

Wednesday night, eight Republican presidential candidates met in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. for a debate sponsored by Politico and NBC News. The debate was in some ways a coming out party for Texas Gov. Rick Perry—it was his first debate since entering the race for the GOP presidential nomination. Expectations were low, yet he rose to the occasion, making direct comparisons between himself and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who until Perry's entrance was the clear front-runner. Romney and Perry clashed on job creation, healthcare, and Social Security. Meanwhile, former Gov. Jon Huntsman, who trails in the polls, tried to engage the dueling front-runners by asserting that his record as governor of Utah trumps both the records of Romney and Perry. [See a collection of political cartoons on the 2012 GOP hopefuls.]

Immigration, global warming, and Social Security presented opportunities for the candidates to distinguish themselves. Rep. Michele Bachmann asserted that she best knew how to get Congress to repeal Obamacare, while Rep. Ron Paul took the most libertarian stance, calling for the disbanding of the FAA and FEMA. Herman Cain touted his 9-9-9 tax reform plan and former Sen. Rick Santorum defended his Catholic beliefs as they related to poverty. While the pointed attacks between Republicans intensified with this debate, the generalized lobs against President Obama were not in short supply. Said former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, "this is a president so committed to class warfare and so committed to bureaucratic socialism that he can't possibly be effective in jobs." The debate revealed the many differences between each of the candidates' views, but it also tested who could most effectively compete with  President Obama in the general election.  Only a candidate who could stand up to seven Republican competitors could hope to face down Obama in 2012.

What do you think? Who won the Politico/ NBC News GOP debate? Take the poll and comment below.

Who won the Politico/ NBC News GOP debate?

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Previously: Who Has the Most at Stake in Wednesday's GOP 2012 Debate?

Tags:
Rick Santorum,
Jon Huntsman,
Michele Bachmann,
Herman Cain,
Rick Perry,
Ron Paul,
Republican Party,
2012 presidential election,
Newt Gingrich,
Mitt Romney

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I feel sad for people that believe Dr. Ron Paul is not electable. Ron Paul is winning hands down. The only place Ron Paul is not winning is in the media. The media are up to their typical brainwashing mantra by suggesting "Ron Paul isn't electable." Many people are likely to buy into the trickery. What really disappoints me are people that suggest voting for Ron Paul would be throwing away their vote since it is unlikely he will win. Wow -- Are these people suggesting Ron Paul voters should not vote at all or should vote for someone the media "thinks" should win? Ron Paul is honest and has intregity. He wants to get rid of the Fed Reserve and the CIA and that he should. He's not cutting programs, just reducing big Government and eliminating our federal income tax. Which is unconstitutional and not required in the first place. I said it, there is no law requiring people to pay income tax. The biggest complaint people seem to have is his position on drugs and foriegn policy. If you want to get rid of drugs, get rid of the dealers (CIA) and legalize them. Our foriegn policy is not working. It has not been working for the past 12+ years. It's time for change. I'm tired of fighting an imaginary enemy. I'm tired of our military being used to watch over our governments CIA poppy plantations in Afghanistan. The war on drugs is a farce made up by our Gov so the CIA could continue to corner the heroin and cocaine markets. Where ever our government is fighting the war on drugs, violence increases and so does drug production in the region. And yesterday I read VP Biden said "the Taliban are not our [America's] enemy." Obama agreed with Biden. Yeah - I guess because our tax dollars are funding their training and armament -suddenely they are no longer the enemy. Maybe our Gov activity with the Taliban is about to be exposed. Gun running, drug dealing, terrorist paying,... 4 more years like the last 40 yrs. Vote Ron Paul for change.

John of GA 11:34AM December 21, 2011

ALMA write: "I feel sad that people would vote for Ron Paul who is likely not going to win the presidency but will be taking votes away from someone who will. I would be more likely to vote for Herman Cain."

Your comment makes no sense. Whomever wins the GOP nomination will be taking the votes for him or herself. And, a vote for Herman Cain, who can't tell the difference between the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, will be a vote for an ex-Federal Reserve Chairman, and a sexual assaulter of women.

patrick of CA 4:21PM November 17, 2011

The more the big media ignores Dr. Ron Paul, the better he does in the polls! Amazing! Those who say Ron Paul can never win may be in for a surprise!

sm of OK 9:31AM November 15, 2011

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