Live Thread (CNN Presidential Debate from Mesa, AZ, Feb 22, 8 PM EST)

CNN.com ^ | 02-22-2012 | parksstp

[parksstp]

LIVE DEBATE THREAD (Is it too early to start?)

[jimbo123]

Newt’s doing great.

[RitaOK]

The CNN and opponents rules work, where if they don’t mention Newt’s name he is effectively shut down until King alone questions him, then Newt may speak. The fear of him is all over the place!

[Mr. Jeeves]

To those who don’t follow politics as closely as we do, Mitt will sound like he’s way on top of this one.

[sandshark222]

Newt is my first choice, but I’d take Santorum ANYDAY over Romney. Newt doing well will only pull from Santorum, which guarantees a Romney win in Michigan and Arizona. Arghh!!!!

[Bailee]

Santorum Smug half smile is not helping him.

[bray]

Newt just hit a homer against the Auto bailout!

[Red Steel]

There is a crowd tilt favoring Romney.

Gingrich has just hammered another question about US automakers out of the park.

[Lauren BaRecall]

Good post.

[Irish Eyes]

I would love to have a look at the buses in the parking lot there. How many with Utah plates? Team Mittens pffffffft!

Will not have too. Mesa Arizona is Mormon territory. Mitt is playing in his own backyard.

[mylife]

But little Ricky LOVES BIG UNIONS!

[Right_in_Virginia]

Well Santo can rest easy .... the tough economic questions seem to be over .... now onto questions about faith.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

RuPaul made some good points there about contract law. It’s that stopped clock idea...

[CynicalBear]

Newt is winning this debate hands down. Both Santorum and Romney look weak and snarky. Santorum especially is getting creamed and mostly by himself.

[katiedidit1]

Newt is on fire! nailed every question with big applause. Right on the auto industry, right on civil service being modernized, right on energy and slamming Obommie the commie

[gov_bean_ counter]

Santo will never finger union leadership.

[conservative98]

Lil Ricky is rattled.

Seems to me I remember Lil Ricky scoring cheap points in the last debate by saying he was tired of Romney and Newt attacking eachother and that they should be going after Obama etc, but now it’s okay for Lil Ricky and Romney to go after eachother.

Santorum is a lousy opportunist and a hypocrit.

---

Exactly. Let’s FOCUS ON THE ISSUES!, little Ricky. Stop distracting and playing petty personal politics. Focus on the issues!

[Gator113]

President Newt Gingrich—”Our beloved republic deserves nothing less.”

[freemarketsfreeminds]

Newt nailed bailouts! Just a payoff to unions.

[Caipirabob]

I love how when Newt responded on the auto industry question "It's simple" and the moderator repeated slowly "it's...simple.." like he was about to get spanked.

He did.

[rodguy911]

Good catch I caught that one as well. As soon as a question comes to newt and he slams it over the fence king does everything he can to cut off Newts applause lines. King is a little leaguer,that’s why he’s at CNN.