January 30, 2008
Not Tough Enough
What were the final four GOPers selling at tonight's CNN debate?
McCain: Leadership. Experience. Reliability on national security issues (using the surge's success to make his point). Conservatism. His participation in the Reagan Revolution. His affection for tax cuts. And those newspaper endorsements (especially the two Massachusetts papers, which chose him over the homestate guv).
Romney: Leadership. Experience. Reliability on fiscal issues. Conservatism. Affection for strict constructionist judges. Washington outsiderism. Support for Iraq war (despite McCain's pointed references to Romney's statement in favor of a timetable for withdrawal).
Huckabee: The merits of including him in the debate. His modesty (ie I wouldn't presume to posit that RR would endorse me. Similarly dodged a question about appropriateness of Sandra Day O'Connor appointment to high court).
Paul: End to Iraq war. Less govt.
Ok, so this was a largely nicey nice debate, what gives? Bad questions (Would Reagan endorse you? Puleeze ...)? A leading challenger -- Romney -- who, as McCain collects high profile endorsements post Florida, is resigned to his fate?
Regardless of the reasons, the dynamic serves one candidate: McCain. The party seems to be coalescing around McCain; Gov. Charlie Crist pre Florida, Rudy Giuliani today, Cali Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tomorrow. Sure, these guys are moderates. They certainly don't represent the party's conservative base. But the conservative base seems to have lost its way this season. Maybe it was inevitable after eight years of losing its way with Mr. Compassionate Conservative himself in the White House.
Bottom line: "I do not think Mitt Romney got what he needed tonight." --David Gergen on CNN
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Posted at 09:56 PM
Comments
Post a comment
The Watergate · 600 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-739-8400 · fax 202-833-8069
NationalJournal.com is an Atlantic Media publication.
