Debate Reverberates Going Into Final Stretch

11 December, 2011
Michael D. Shear
NY Times

As time is drawing to a close, the election for a Republican candidate heats up after last night's debate. All are scrambling for the voter's affection in the nomination to run in the general election against Obama. Much of the decision making will be about what was discussed during the debate. Some hot issues are Mitt Romney's $10k bet, Michele Bachmann's new slogan, Newt Gringrich's humility and his Gringrinch's hot headed rant about Palestinians.

Rick Perry's attack on Romney's new book garnered an instantaneous response in which Romney wagered 10,000 dollars against Perry about his views on the health care issue. Perry's response was that he doesn't bet. Mr. Romney has screwed himself with the voters in the sense that not many people have 10 grand, nor can they feasibly do that with a salary that amounts to only a fraction of that amount of money per month. Romney may be viewed as a man that's too willing to spend precious money over such small issues and that will affect the voter's especially the 9-5 shift workers.

Employing a tactic used by former governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann's criticized Gringrinch and Romney on their stances on certain issues where their stance follows that of Obama. Hoping to garner support from conservatives, Bachmann stated “If you look at Newt Romney, they were for ObamaCare principles,” she said. “If you look at Newt Romney, they were for cap and trade. If you look at Newt Romney, they– for the illegal immigration problem. And if you look at New Romney, they were for the $700 billion bailout. And you just heard Newt/Romney is also with Obama on the issue of the payroll extension.” This may rouse some to stand behind her.

Mr. Gringrinch has definitely had some ups and downs in the debate. Scrutinized over his infidelity by his opponents, Gringrinch's response was simple and effective in saying that the past is the past and he has attempted to atone for it. What matters now is how Gringrinch can serve the people as best as possible. As effective as his response was to the criticism, Gringrinch then went on to rant about supporting Israel and how the Middle East was full of terrorists where the schools there taught terrorism. This came off as as a hot headed response that is a bad quality of a commander in chief. He brought up how Reagan demanded to Gorbachev to knock down the Berlin Wall and that a leader that isn't afraid to speak their minds is needed. Whether the voters will take this as a good or bad quality is purely up to their opinions.

Voting for these candidates will commence on January 3rd and from then on, the victor will compete against Obama. Gringrinch is holding out well and is apparently at the top in most polls, but after last night, voter's may be speculative over his capability as leader of the U.S. Bachmann may gain a lot of support from conservatives in her criticism of the stances of Romney and Gringrinch. Romney himself will have to find a way around the impulsive bet that he called on during the debate.

Source: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/debate-reverberates-going-into-final-stretch/?ref=politics