John McCain

Related: McCain and Romney's War of Words

Solid, straight-talking and relaxed, in the assertive mode of what-you-see-is-what-you'll -get-if-I'm-president. Gave perhaps his best debate answer of the cycle to a woman whose brother was killed in Iraq — passion, patriotism, poise, and personality all in one response. Commanded the stage on the war several other times, and finished strong. Yet with no other debates scheduled in the near future, he passed up a chance to call out Romney on the governor's failure to offer his own detailed immigration plan, instead tweaking Giuliani on a minor immigration point. Held it together — if only just — on camera cutaways that showed his irritable reactions to Romney and Giuliani.

— by Mark Halperin