Posted on 09/22/2011 12:39:16 PM PDT by yoe
Dueling pitchers Rick Perry and Mitt Romney will face off tonight for the third time in three weeks in Republican presidential debates.
Perry won the first game by throwing plenty of heat and Romney prevailed the second time with finesse pitches and lots of help on offense from other players. Now, it’s time for the rubber game? As they head into the FOX News/Google debate ahead of the Republican Party of Florida’s straw poll, the stakes for Romney and Perry are huge.
Romney has seen his own support solidify following Perry’s blazing entrance to the race last month. But the former Massachusetts governor has to prove that it is more than just a political version of “cash for clunkers” in which people who were eventually going to back Romney anyway just moved up their decisions. As the milder of the two, Romney faces an enthusiasm gap with Perry. Romney has been trying to close the gap by dampening the ardor of Perry’s supporters by raising questions about the Texas governor’s electablity. But as Power Play often notes, the problem with running an electability campaign is that primary voters tend to resent candidates who make the opposing party’s arguments for them.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Predictions:
Newt will steal the show by bashing Bammy and the media.
Perry will be very circumspect and careful.
Romney will come off as arrogant and snarky.
Bachman will be very quiet and ladylike.
Paul will twitch a lot.
Johnson will smile and be personable.
Huntsman will be very statesmanlike.
Santorum will stand behind his podium.
computer crashed.....
Cain will be articulate, optimistic, forthright, honest and informative without lecturing or belittling other candidates.
You forgot: And Sarah will tweet.
Just hope the name Gardisil doesn’t pass thru anyone’s lips!
I missed the debate, but heard about it. I hear that Rick Perry did poorly. He may turn out to be the Fred Thompson of this election cycle. Mitt Romney performed well enough, though he was very mechanical, I hear. Herman Cain and Gary Johnson came off the best.
Cain seemed sharp enough. Perhaps he can emerge, overtake Bachmann? She’s unfortunately not doing so hot.
Santorum I don’t love but he looks good compared to Mick Pomney. He’s getting high marks as well for the debate. He has gotten almost no traction at all.
If Perry does drop off that would hopefully cause some other alternative to Romney to move up.
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