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Who Won the Republican Debate
Elephant Watcher ^ | May 5, 2011

Posted on 05/05/2011 7:51:34 PM PDT by Triton42

"So who won the debate? In a political debate, of course, there is no such thing as "winning the argument." Instead, candidates aim to achieve certain goals. In this case--even for Pawlenty--the goal was to attract media attention. The debates also present an opportunity for the candidates to prove their rhetorical ability. So who succeeded?

No candidate performed in an outstanding way. Two candidates, Santorum and Johnson, performed poorly. But Cain, Paul, and Pawlenty each achieved what they set out to do...."

(Excerpt) Read more at elephantwatcher.com ...


TOPICS: Politics
KEYWORDS: 2012; cain; debate; johnson; pawlenty; republican; ronpaul; santorum
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1 posted on 05/05/2011 7:51:37 PM PDT by Triton42
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To: Triton42

Herman Cain


2 posted on 05/05/2011 7:53:29 PM PDT by freejohn
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To: Triton42

Herman Cain. He hit a grand slam.


3 posted on 05/05/2011 7:53:46 PM PDT by smokeyb
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To: Triton42
I think it was clearly Cain. That doesn't necessarily imply (nor does it not imply) that he's the overall leader of the pack. There are just too many unknowns at this early stage.

But in tonight's debate with the others, he was a giant among dwarfs. IMHO, YYMV, void where prohibited.

4 posted on 05/05/2011 7:54:39 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: freejohn

I would vote for anyone that participated in that debate except for Ron Paul. But Ron Paul won it. He electrified the audience. If he gets the nomination, we’re in big trouble.


5 posted on 05/05/2011 7:55:01 PM PDT by Guyin4Os (A messianic ger-tsedek)
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To: Guyin4Os
Ron Paul won it. He electrified the audience.

Isn't it generally conceded that Ron Paul's fans travel well? He didn't win the Frank Luntz focus group which went for Cain in a HUGH way.

6 posted on 05/05/2011 7:58:05 PM PDT by re_nortex (DP...that's what I like about Texas.)
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To: Triton42

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2715738/posts


7 posted on 05/05/2011 7:58:05 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo (FreeRepublic.com. Now, More Than Ever.)
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To: Triton42

I liked Santorum, Pawlenty and Cain.


8 posted on 05/05/2011 7:58:37 PM PDT by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified Decartes))
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To: freejohn

Ok, he generally has the right policy positions. But does he have specifics? He does have the right approach - you have to identify a problem first, etc. But I don’t want to like him mainly because he’s black.

I sort of like Gary Johnson - but who knows. They all sounded ok to me.


9 posted on 05/05/2011 7:59:18 PM PDT by Aria ( "If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.")
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To: Guyin4Os

Ron Paul probably had a lot of vocal college kid supporters in the room.

The “audience reaction group” (or whatever they were called) that Fox interviewed after the debate hit the nail on the head.

CAIN!


10 posted on 05/05/2011 7:59:36 PM PDT by BwanaNdege ("Experience is the best teacher, but if you can accept it 2nd hand, the tuition is less." M Rosen)
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To: smokeyb

Herman Cain said he didn’t know what he would do about Iraq and Afghanistan. He’d decide once he became president and had more information. In one sense, it’s a safe answer, but it doesn’t make me feel confident him as a candidate. I’m not going to vote for someone who won’t give an answer on this question.

Santorum was the clear winner. He was consistent in his answers, didn’t come across as a flip-flopper (as Pawlenty did several times), and showed that he was not afraid to go after Obama head-on. He also showed some class, following Reagan’s 11th commandment in not taking the bait and going after Gingrich’s personal failures.

His closing statement was the strongest. His comment that he has taken on his own party (including Bush) will resonate with voters.


11 posted on 05/05/2011 7:59:42 PM PDT by Paul Kib (http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/)
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To: Triton42

I didn’t.


12 posted on 05/05/2011 8:01:24 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: Aria

Herman Cain is a wise American with integrity who happens to live in a black skin.


13 posted on 05/05/2011 8:01:43 PM PDT by BwanaNdege ("Experience is the best teacher, but if you can accept it 2nd hand, the tuition is less." M Rosen)
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To: SumProVita

Santorum’s strong position on LIFE, FREEDOM and FAMILY....was key for me!


14 posted on 05/05/2011 8:02:17 PM PDT by SumProVita (Cogito, ergo...Sum Pro Vita. (Modified Decartes))
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To: Triton42

Herman Cain was impressive, he isn’t my first choice I like Sarah Palin. But, he did a great job kudos to him.


15 posted on 05/05/2011 8:02:25 PM PDT by erod (Unlike the President I am a true Chicagoan.)
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To: Guyin4Os

Paul’s organization is all about showing up. The problem he has is that voter’s don’t like his ideological positions as a whole. Does he have vocal loyal followers, yes, in spades. Can he poll more than 10% nationally — nope.


16 posted on 05/05/2011 8:02:45 PM PDT by KC Burke
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To: BwanaNdege

Is that how you speak of all those who happen to live in a pink skin?


17 posted on 05/05/2011 8:02:51 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: Paul Kib

Oh, and Ron Paul....if it’s anything like CPAC, he packed the audience with his college-age libertarian groupies, lining them up with free tickets. Romney did the same thing. It’s how straw polls are won.


18 posted on 05/05/2011 8:02:59 PM PDT by Paul Kib (http://whattoreadtoday.blogspot.com/)
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To: Aria
But I don’t want to like him mainly because he’s black.

Holy Crepe, that's a horribly formed sentence. Would you rephrase that in the way I think you meant it?

19 posted on 05/05/2011 8:03:06 PM PDT by GreenAccord (Bacon Akbar!)
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To: erod

Palin-Cain or Cain-Palin.

I’ll take either one on Election Day!


20 posted on 05/05/2011 8:03:50 PM PDT by BwanaNdege ("Experience is the best teacher, but if you can accept it 2nd hand, the tuition is less." M Rosen)
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