The First Republican Debate
Mark Halperin gives Mitt Romney the highest marks on a night that produced no gaffes, but also created no major shifts in the Presidential pecking order
Mitt Romney
Passed his first high-profile test with aplomb. Showed the sunny-side-up optimism, smoothly relaxed demeanor and mechanically thorough preparation that have won over donors and talk show hosts alike. Never rushed his answers or got flustered. Deftly told a Ted Kennedy joke and closed with a stone cold hit on Hillary Clinton/Harry Reid/Nancy Pelosi. Voters getting their first real look at Romney probably liked what they saw. Still has to explain his shifted positions and return harder foreign policy volleys.
— Mark Halperin
View the full list for "The First Republican Debate"Latest Lists
Most Popular »
- Obama Shrinks the War on Terrorism
- Humanure: Goodbye, Toilets. Hello, Extreme Composting
- Did Amanda Knox Get a Fair Murder Trial?
- Is California Sold on Gov. Meg Whitman?
- Celebrity Chefs Show How to Lose Weight
- Many Mutual Funds Are Up 50% in '09 — But Beware
- The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting
- How Strong Is the Evidence Against Amanda Knox?
- Box Office Weekend: Blind Side Sacks New Moon
- Astronomers Spy a New Planet-Like Object
- Paris: 10 Things to Do in 24 Hours
- Who Will Inherit Joel Stein's Kid?
- Workers of the World vs. China Inc.
- New York City: 10 Things to Do in 24 Hours
- Troubling Rise of Facebook's Top Game Company
- For Churches, Beefed-Up Security Is a Mixed Blessing
- Shanghai: 10 Things to Do in 24 Hours
- In Central America, Coups Still Trump Change
- Could Zuma Be What South Africa Needs?
- Fat Fees and Smoker Surcharges: Tough-Love Health Incentives
RSS