Rudy Giuliani

Related: Why is Rudy Smiling?

Leveraged his assigned position in the center of the stage to claim alpha male status. Visually supported with a tidy pair of eye glasses, he appeared polished, calm and thoughtful on hypotheticals about Iran and other weighty matters. Smoothly handled a tense face-off and what seemed to be a jarring genuine lightning strike when discussing criticism from a Rhode Island Catholic bishop on his abortion views (although the dramatic video may come back to haunt him with conservative Republicans). Bottom line: Every day his liberal social positions and record don't knock him out of the race is a day closer to the nomination.

— by Mark Halperin