Advertisement

Opinion: GOP debate: Biggest winner, loser and missed opportunity

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Biggest Missed Opportunity: Rick Perry. He needed to explain what he means when he calls Social Security a Ponzi scheme. Does he want to repeal it? Change it? We still don’t know.

Biggest winner: Mitt Romney. Looked and sounded presidential. Had a solid response to Perry on Social Security. Cited his 59-point economic plan about 59 times, but you would too, if you had produced a 59-point plan.

Advertisement

Biggest loser: Michele Bachmann. Next to Perry and Romney, looked and sounded like last month’s flavor.

Best supporting actors: Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman and Ron Paul. They don’t look as if they’re getting anywhere in this race, but they had interesting things to say. A good argument for keeping debates open to second-tier candidates.

RELATED:

Rick Perry’s make-it-or-break-it debate?

McManus: A two-man GOP presidential race?

Advertisement

Where do Republicans stand on social mobility?

Cheney and Rove vs. Rick Perry on Social Security

Our next GOP president must facilitate the American dream

Advertisement

--Doyle McManus

Advertisement
Advertisement