Well, the latest poll after the debates makes some things pretty clear.
1) Despite their efforts, they did not lay a hand on Trump.
2) The people who absolutely benefited most from the main debate were Cruz and Carson. And well they should have. Theirs were the most principled and constitutionally oriented (IMHO) comments and disposition on that stage.
Now, it is also clear that Fiorina also benefited from her performance in the earlier debate. I think she has wasted that in the mean time amongst conservatives with several of her comments (ie. on immigration and about Megyn Kelly).
Anyhow, I believe that Trump’s presence continues to be a benefit to the overall process, and that those candidates who are astute, know how to position themselves an continue to articulate the clear conservative, constitutional message...without joining in the attack Trump mentality that the media, the DNC/Libs and the establishment Republicans have gotten into.
Donald Trump, 23 percent (up 1 point)
Ted Cruz, 13 percent (up 7 points)
Ben Carson, 11 percent (up 3 points)
Carly Fiorina, 8 percent (up 6 points)
Marco Rubio, 8 percent (no change)
Jeb Bush, 7 percent (down 3 points)
Scott Walker, 7 percent (down 3 points)
Mike Huckabee, 5 percent (up 1 point)
Rand Paul, 5 percent (down 1 point)
Rick Perry, 2 percent (no change)
John Kasich, 2 percent (down 1 point)
Lindsey Graham, 1 percent (no change)
Bobby Jindal, 1 percent (no change)
Chris Christie, 1 percent (down 2 points)
George Pataki, 0 percent (no change)
Rick Santorum, 0 percent (down 1 point)
2) The people who absolutely benefited most from the main debate were Cruz and Carson. And well they should have. Theirs were the most principled and constitutionally oriented (IMHO) comments and disposition on that stage.
And so you mean to suggest that because Cruz and Carson gave the "most principled and constitutionally oriented (IMHO) comments and disposition on that stage" really cuts any ice with the majority of American voters nowadays?
Do you believe that the "mainstream voter" nowadays even cares about such considerations?
Just asking. I would reply: No. The mainstream American voter does not at all care about such "abstract" considerations. The average American voter is worried about how to "make ends meets" in the family budget — at a time when the full power of the Obama presidency has been targeted against the freedom and self-sufficiency of American families.
Beyond that, the average American voter — assuming he is sane — is concerned about national security, which without question has been going down the tubes — and deliberately so — under the Obama administration.
Obama is not incompetent. Rather, he is obtaining exactly what he wanted to obtain, upon his accession to presidential office. On that basis, I would say he is omnicompetent. (Valerie Jarrett assures him that this is true, every day, I feel sure.)
Whether the problem is domestic or international, Obama always picks the policy that will most undermine American interests. If you disagree with me on this point, just check his record for yourself. If you can get out of "sleepwalking mode" in the first place.
People need to get real. Obama's left-progressive oh-so-successful rhetoric is poisonous to the survival of the American people, and in particular of American families.