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FWIW, probably not much, here is my ratings on the Tea Party Debate. Surprisingly, CNN did a better job than Fox and DNCMSNBC in moderating the debate.

1. Gingrich - winner or second place for the third time for the effective zingers he got in. Unquestionably the best debater, but modified by the fact that nobody is going after him because he doesn’t have a chance.
2. Bachmann - stood her ground and won the Gardisil and wetback debate with Perry; she still seems somewhat one dimensional with the Obama care business but overall the stood out from the non-Newt crowd.
3. Huntsman - again exuded confidence and won all barb throwing contests; yes I know he’s a lib but hey this is about debate points.
4. Santorum - kicked Perry’s derriere and Paul’s derriere on several issues, but he was riding on the back of Bachmann on most of them; nevertheless, his overall best performance of the debate season; he does need to stop talking about winning elections since he got his derriere kicked in his last race and also endorsed Specter (a James Bond enemy).
5. Romney - he actually engaged and looked at those who were speaking (unlike Perry who seldom looked at the speakers) and held his own even though the crowd obviously had some animosity toward him. He was engaging and affable (he out politicianed Perry the supposed master politician).
6. Perry - lost big time on the subject of Gardisil and wetbacks (state tuition for wets); that overshadowed any other good points he might have scored earlier. He’s going to have to get his feces together better if he wants to get into prime time.
7. Cain - 9/9/9, what else did he say? A nice guy, but nice guys finish last, or in this case next to last.
8. Paul - the Village Idiot is...well just the village idiot.

Note: Bachmann also handled a post debate interview with John Queen (or is it King) well. Maybe, hopefully, her ability to deal with the media is improving.

I had no agenda in the ratings, but if you’ve got the propane, flame away.

Or.... maybe no one on stage is going after Gingrich because they would come out on the short end of it? What other contender up there would dare go after Newt?

Before the 2008 election, Newt was polling at 15% (with McCain, Guiliani, Romney, Huckabee already running) on just speculation he would get in. I think he might have jumped in too early, and his campaign did get off to a pretty bad start. The media has savaged him, but he is slowly bouncing back. Nobody on the stage tonight wants to be one on one against Newt.... guaranteed. Obama vs. Newt in a debate would be much worse than Edwards vs. Cheney.