McCain Came across as the winner–most forceful and funny.

Huckabee–second place–another strong night.

Giuliani–third place. no big problems, but didn’t distinguish himself.

Tied for last place–Thompson and Romney. Thompson bumbled his way along and Romney was on the defensive all night and became an object of ridicule.

Paul. Positives on Obama.

Gibson re gas prices

Paul gets onto monetary policy and he loses the audience.

This is McCain’s finest performance–he is dominating the debate thus far.

McCain has reduced Romney to an object of ridicule in this debate.

Romney has had to complian tht McCain was picking on him–Romney sounded like a crybaby.

Thompson is rambling–he is the worst communicator on the stage tonight.

Giuliani is forceful on energy.

Huckabee continues to sound thoughtful and intelligent.

Romney-sounds knowledgeable on energy.

Giuliani defending his immigration policies. He seems reasonable and rational here.

Thompson continues to stammer.

Huckabee on immigration strikes a balance of seeming tough and compassionate. Fascinating spin by saying immigrants should be able to hold their heads high–nice twist.  

Paul. Sounds rational and intelligent on immigration.

Q_what about Barack Obama?

Romney–uses occasion big words like “positing.”

Thompson. Obama is a “liberal” “liberal” “liberal”

McCain. Gets the best dig in of the night “Romney, you are the candidate of change” boom, what a funny slam!

McCain is having the most fun tongiht. Finally, McCain’s humor is coming through.

 Giuliani–Nobody likes to talk about htis, but Giuliani has a lisp and he’s bald. The more he is seen, the worse he seems to be doing. Is there a corelation and causation here?

 Huckabee takes interesting twist saying positive things about Obama and drafting into his vertical outlook.

McCain shows a light fun confidence.

McCain’s shirt, tie and suit are perfect for TV. he doesn’t seem ruffled regarding immigration. sounds compassionate toward immigrants. They are “God’s children.”

Romney-anti-amnesty. Pro-legal immigration.

Giuliani dodges question on throwing out 12 million illegal immigrants. But then says you just can’t do it.

Romney seems very smart, but stirrgule not to get into the complexity he understands. Romney is on the defensive.

 McCain gives a good slam to Romney “You can spend your fortune” saying it and it still won’t be true.

McCain slams Romney on changing positions and laughs. McCain is getting the better of Romney.

Giuliani sounds great on immigration. He invokes Reagan on immigration and puts everything in perspective.

Giuliani seems crass with jokes about Canadians coming to US for healthcare.

All of the candidates are coming across as relatively competent, comfortable and credible.

Romney makes a forceful defense of his helathcare policies as governor. Romney seems really smart and forceful here.

Paul has great point on US citizens going to India for heart surgery. He gets angry and seems cranky.

Thompson–seems condescending toward Paul. Thompson makes strong case for using markets in healthcare.

Romney “I like mandates.” Will this come back to haunt him among GOP?

Romney gives an example of someone who makes $100,000–gives the impression he never met anyone who makes that little.

Romeny lost this threat. He got lost in the complexity and seems like he likes taxes, mandates and federal healthcare plans. 

Huckabee sounds forceful talking about 80 percent of healthcare money going to people wo are nearly dead. “it is about a $1000 for a kleeniex in a hospital.”

McCain gives a funny face–every so often that is OK–got it a laugh.

McCain brings in more irreverent humor mentioning SC and Iowa.

Romney defending big Pharma. McCain saying big pharma are the bad guys.

Huckabee talking about core principles–very thoughtful–not glib–appears statesman-like.

Thompson-Thompson needs more makeup to cover the bags under his eyes. Thompson stammers a lot–he’s really not very articulate.

Paul pointing out numerous constitutional hypocrisy–very forceful. 

Giuliani is really wound up re islamic terrorism. He gets going on 9-11.

Gibson moves to domestic policy.

Bush video clip re philosophical principles

McCain vs Romney

McCain doesn’t seem to want to attack Romney at first. mcCain looks and sounds presidential here. Not negative. Very positive.

Romney. Talking about family and America–not dealing with the charges that he has flip-flopped on all major issues. Romney is slick–and I don’t mean that in a negative way.

Gibson politely pointed out that they weren’t attacking each other and this was disappointing. 

Giuliani didn’t engage either.

Gibson did a great simple and fair description of each candidates flip-flops.

McCain–strong opening. Not afraid to give Bush a little credit. McCain contininues to blink excessively.

Ron Paul 1st answer. Paul still looks and sounds impish and peevish–even when is says sensible things. Paul tkaes nice swipe at Giuliani and makes argument for america antagonizing the world.

Romney first answer. Romney is very pro-Bush. Romney is uncharacteristicly sloppy. His tie is hanging out. It is a bad TV tie. The white shirt is too bright. Romney is still smooth, polished, comfortable and confident.  

Gibson is friendly and good natured.

Huckabee is wearing a bad TV tie–it is pixilating and going blurry in some shots. His first answer comes across sincere–nice distancing from Bush. He appears to be thoughtful re foreign policy.

Fred Thompson says “uh” evey two seconds. He seems to need a director and severl takes before he can nail it.

Giuliani comes out forceful. Strong hand motions. His white shirt is too bright and is glary. He likes to use lots of numbers. He didn’t criticize Bush.

Moderator Charlie Gibson should do well because he doesn’t appear to want to dominate the debate.