Fox News Republican Debate

I was particularly interested in this debate at the way in which the interactions between the candidates reflected the dynamics of the race as it currently stands. This wasn't my favourite debate, I feel that the time limiting mechanisms imposed by Fox News don't allow for interaction between the candidates but just a series of independent statements, but it was another chance to hear from the candidates and particularly interesting because it's the first debate since New Hampshire.

There is no front-runner in this race. Unlike the Democratic debates, where we'll be able to identify the two candidates fighting for first, the Republican contest still doesn't have a decisive front-runner or pair of front-runners. It could still tip in any direction before the end, or it could remain in this fairly balanced form right up to the convention (and wouldn't that make the Republican convention fun to watch?) You can also tell that there's no front-runner because the candidates don't know who to go after. Romney received a pass in this debate - he wasn't criticised by any of the candidates despite previous debates which were all about Romney bashing. Some candidates went after McCain, some Huckabee, some Giuliani. Thompson, who has nailed his flag to the mast in South Carolina was obviously going after Huckabee because that's probably who he needs to beat to win in South Carolina and stay alive.

Ron Paul, as usual, was Ron Paul. You can see the MSM treating him a little bit like the odd brother of the group. Each candidate got asked about the Reagan Coalition and what had happened to it, but Ron Paul wasn't, and then they asked him about his following from the 9/11 Truth movement. That was just a 'You're crazy and so are your followers' question, and I think it was a little unbecoming of a serious news organisation. I expect that kind of commentary from 'A Daily Show With Jon Stewart,' not Brit Hume.

Nothing's been shaken up by this debate, I don't think. Thompson was a little better than in previous debate performances. I'm also getting tired of candidates responding to questions about another candidate's criticism using a billion different ways to say 'They're attacking me because I'm ahead, and therefore I'm popular and they're not.' I'd never heard Huckabee's variation on it before - 'You know what they say, if you're taking flak you must be over the target' but I'm still tired of it.

Also someone needs to teach these candidates about managing time when they're in one of these debates which has strict time limitations. Huckabee, for example, gets asked a question, and slow-talks (with pauses) his way through a good chunk of it, then insits on going over the time at the end when Hume tries to cut him off. If you've got points to make, make them first and cut the rest of the stuff. McCain's pretty good at this.