There is a reason those folks go to Iowa and talk in little diners and living rooms, it is so they can hone their stump speech, figure out what to say and what not to say say stupid things only a handful of people hear rather than 10 million and also to sound honest about it, or at least that you believe it. Bloomberg thought he was so smart he could just walk in and do it, you cannot.
But it was pretty clear Bloomberg wasn't interested in dueling it out with the other candidates. He's had more accomplishments in his life than any on that stage and they are actually really amateurs by comparison.
I don't pay much attention to how the media reports on these debates as their purpose is to manipulate and shape public opinion in such a way as to keep them engaged with their networks for all the obvious reasons....and have impact on the outcome of the election.
Old-timer politician to young political upstart: "Son, the most important thing for a politician is sincerity. If you can learn to fake that you'll go far."
Mikkee would have been well-served to have heeded Giuliani's '08 campaign where he skipped Iowa and barely contested New Hampshire to focus on Florida (where he finished 3rd).
There's something about being a former Mayor of New York and a bit of a bonehead when it comes to national political campaigns.