The Second Republican Debate

Best: Roused crowds and employed the force of his personality to dominate the stage with repeated stirring talk of 9/11, including a news-making aggressive challenge to Ron Paul. Played the electability card by dangling the twin specters of Hillary Clinton and the "liberal media."

Worst: Expressed his views on abortion more plainly than during the first debate, but still deferential to courts and seeking his full voice on the issue. (He didn't make things worse, at least). Also muddled on guns and immigration. Remains reflexively New York-centric, without presenting an identifiably presidential presence beyond his ferocious national security stance.

— Mark Halperin