yes, thanks I read that here after I posted.
The audience restriction provides a dry, uninteresting debate, and I have little doubt that preventing standing ovations for Gingrich and conservative opinion were a big motive.
AGREED!
BUT the audience restriction also prevented applause for the others, too.
Overall, a REAL audience is much better and helps inspire the candidates.
This ‘managed’ audience was like a football game with no fans!