From One News Now:
Last night was the Republican candidates’ last opportunity to influence Iowans before the January 3, 2012 caucuses. For the first time ever, Sioux City played host to a presidential debate that found the frontrunner assailed by his GOP rivals.
While many commentators believe former House Speaker Newt Gingrich went into the debate with the most to lose, he once again showed his strong leadership abilities.
“I believe I can debate Barack Obama, and I think in seven three-hour debates, Barack Obama will not have a leg to stand on in trying to defend a record that is terrible and an ideology that is radical,” he argued.
Analysts like Carol M. Swain, professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, believe the presidential hopeful did well, but she says his consulting work for the government-supported Freddie Mac still raises concerns.
“The line seems to have been so thin that most people will believe that he was using his influence,” she notes. “But I thought Michele Bachmann‘s criticisms were criticisms that would resonate with a lot of people.”
Both Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul deflected electability questions, but Swain, who is also author of Be the People, says Paul demonstrates needed clarity on constitutional issues.
“I would like to see a Republican administration that would find a role for someone like him because I believe he raises some very legitimate concerns about our intervention in the rest of the world, as well as the failure to uphold our basic civil liberties,” the political science professor offers.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Pennsylvania Rep. Rick Santorum, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman also participated in the debate.
Going into the Sioux City debate, the latest Iowa poll had Paul at just one percentage point behind Gingrich.
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