Political Radar: Live-Blogging During GOP Debate

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Live-Blogging During GOP Debate

November 28, 2007 8:09 PM

10:16 pm ET: That's it for tonight. Tune in to The Note tomorrow for more analysis, and thanks for reading...

10:12 pm ET: Wrapping thoughts.... You could make an argument for lots of different winners: Romney, Giuliani, and McCain all had strong moments. But the biggest night belonged to Mike Huckabee. At a moment when many voters are just tuning in, and hearing about this Huckabee guy, he turned in a really strong performance, showing flashes of humor, and defusing tough questions. I thought going in that he would have a rough evening, but he really soared.

10:10 pm ET: Wrong number, Mitt!! It's 86, not 87 long years. C'mon -- that is a major league flub.

10:08 pm ET: We've heard, Rudy, about how you beat Clinton on the line-item veto -- but he can't like answering those questions.

10:02 pm ET: Romney actually had a substantive answer when asked about the Confederate flag: "My own view is that this country can go beyond that kind of stuff. . . . That flag, frankly, is divisive, and shouldn't be shown." Paging South Carolina . . .

10 pm ET: Another strong answer from Huckabee -- he's had a lot of them today.

9:57 pm ET: Hillary hasn't been on stage much tonight, but Huckabee just sent her to Mars.

9:57 pm ET: ABC's Christine Byun: "Thompson comes alive when talking about Social Security - you have to hand it to him, he's the only one to touch "the third rail" with some sort of fervor."

9:49 pm ET: Not that time, Gov. Romney? Finally Anderson Cooper bores in, and Romney slithers away on the question of gays in the military. ABC's Matt Stuart reports that Romney wrote in 1994 that he hoped don't ask don't tell would be "the first in a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation's military."

9:40 pm ET: Thompson does have a sense of humor -- that did sort of look like him. And if you're scoring at home, two questioners have now threatened to shoot the candidates.

9:37 pm ET: ABC's Jan Simmonds, on that torture debate: Rudy, with his head down, looked like that he did not want to enter McCain and Romney's debate over waterboarding. Luckily, McCain obliged.

9:33 pm ET: Fred Thompson uses a lot of words to say not a lot.

9:30 pm Et: Here's comes McCain -- astonished that Romney would supporter waterboarding. He has more credibility on this issue than anyone else on this (or basically any other) stage. "Life is not 24 and Jack Bauer." He got a straight-ahead opportunity to make a case his candidacy depends upon.

9:26 pm ET: John McCain found his way to give these lines to brag about being "right" on Iraq -- but it's almost 90 minutes into a debate that he's barely been involved in.

9:23 pm ET: Rudy's got the best video of the night. King Kong! Hillary! Cutting snowfall! That's the spirit!

9:22 pm ET: That inspiring piece of YouTube theater is Romney's new ad, "Historic Change," ABC's Matt Stuart reports.

9:17 pm ET: I'm not smart enough to know whether Giuliani had a good answer about whether he believes every word of the Bible, but that seemed like an excellent response. And then -- Huckabee just knocks it out of the park.

9:15 pm ET: Huckabee got out of a tough one: Would Jesus support the death penalty? That's a really interesting question -- I'd have liked a direct answer.

9:12 pm ET: Rudy managed to say there was a "problem" with Roe v. Wade without really changing his position on abortion.

9:11 pm ET: Fred's windups are far more complicated than his pitches. Does he need to walk us through what the question is before (not really) answering?

9:07 pm ET: Sorry, Gov. Romney, but that's a strategy to combat violence in the inner city -- to get more moms and dads? But nice of him to remind us that he didn't have a police commissioner -- could have been more subtle, and said, he didn't have a police commissioner named Bernie.

9:04 pm ET: Again Thompson won't answer specifics -- this time about guns. Why not drop a make and model if you own "a couple of guns"? Duncan Hunter gets the spirit of the question. (Romney, with that weird laugh, really didn't.)

9:01 pm ET: Rudy's back with his numbers. It makes it seem like he's answering questions forthrightly, in ways Republican voters would agree with, when in fact he's bucking GOP dogma. You have to listen to his answers very carefully.

8:59 pm ET: Good for Duncan Hunter for taking a brief break from kissing up to the NRA by talking about gun safety before he talks Second Amendment.

8:58 pm ET: That was a particularly poor showing from McCain, in his video.

8:52 pm ET: "What's up with that?" Cooper asks. What's up is that Fred Thompson's campaign knows they need to do something dramatic, so they used their clip as an effective attack ad. For what it's worth, Romney's "I was wrong" is appropriately concise. Either voters will hold his former position on abortion against him, or they won't.

8:48 pm ET: Good call by CNN to ask Rudy about the news of the day, but where's the follow-up? "I had nothing to do with the handling of their records." And Giuliani says it were handled "perfectly appropriately." Says Anderson Cooper: "Great." Really, that worked for you?

8:43 pm ET: Grover Norquist counts as a real person?? C'mon, CNN, he gets to talk to these guys all the time, and he knows their answers already...

8:42 pm ET: And McCain takes a page from Rudy Giuliani's book by attacking Ron Paul!! Did not see this coming. Remember that beating up on Dr. No served Rudy very, very well six months or so ago.

8:41 pm ET: From ABC's Christine Byun: "Man with a plan(s)? Thompson's really leaning on all his policy plans - remember my immigration plan? Remember my social security plan? Apparently, no one in the audience did -- no applause -- whereas Huckabee's IRS answer touched a nerve with those sitting in the theater.

8:39 pm ET: Ron Paul: Cut energy, education, and homeland security. So he gets specific, at least -- would love to see a show of hands for those who agree with him on those three. Huckabee gets the good line by saying he'd cut the IRS -- and those Fair Tax people are active on their issue.

8:37 pm ET: So Fred Thompson is asked to name three specific programs he'd cut -- and then doesn't name any specific programs. A dodge?

8:32 pm ET: Ron Paul will not gain many converts by talking about "conspiracy theories" espoused by his followers. Don't forget that this is a big night for him too -- he'd rather be talking about some of ideas that align more closely with, say, sanity.

8:30 pm ET: ABC's Matt Stuart reports: Romney just made the immigration issue a fiscal discipline issue. "That’s not your money. That’s the tax payers money."

8:28 pm ET: Huckabee's learning early on that this debating thing's harder when you're an actual real candidate. But he is actually standing by a policy that doesn't poll very well among Republican voters -- seems confident and secure. "We're a better country than to punish children for what their parents did."

8:27 pm ET: So we're almost one-fourth into the allotted time, and we've covered exactly one issue...

8:23 pm ET: Tancredo's good line: "All I've heard is people trying to out-Tancredo Tancredo." And you know what? He's right.

Cane27: You're right, usually they're called "former" if they're not in office anymore...

8:21 pm ET: Surely McCain would have wished for a different issue to start with -- but he takes the prize for the first mention of a prominent Florida Republican, in associated himself with Sen. Mel Martinez.

8:17 pm ET: A good softball for Fred Thompson to start off with -- ABC's Christine Byun notes that "no amnesty" is a main plank of Thompson's immigration plan. (And anyone doubt what the No. 1 issue is for Republican voters?) But Thompson doesn't seem comfortable AT ALL delivering those blows. Awful oohs and ahhs from the crowd.

8:13 pm ET: And Romney gets the first applause by noting that illegal immigrants already broke the law. (Rudy's not smiling.) And when Rudy talked about the "sanctuary mansion" of Romney's house, the crowd didn't seem to like it. Wonder how that plays at home . . . Romney is engaging very, very directly -- and dare I say he's getting the better of Giuliani in this exchange, funny accents and all. AND THIS IS RIVETING TELEVISION!

8:12 pm ET: Rudy gets the first question, on "sanctuary cities." "New York City was not a sanctuary city." (Wait for everyone to start picking that statement apart.) But Rudy was ready for this question -- it's a substantive, detailed answer -- more detailed than he's been in the past. He likes to bowl people over with statistics. A good answer to a tough question.

8:10 pm ET: I'm always the type who shuts SNL off when we get the first musical number -- this was amusing, but come on -- isn't this why the GOP candidates didn't want to do this?

8:08 pm ET: Thanks, Anderson Cooper, for telling us what we won't see... but we did spy Chuck Norris in the crowd, on hand on behalf of Huckabee.

7:55 pm ET: Here's a prediction -- the sharpest jab tonight won't involve Romney and Rudy, but Mike Huckabee and someone else. He's gotten a free ride at most of the previous debates -- and that could end tonight.

7:34 pm ET: ABC's Christine Byun reports: With less than 30 mins to go -- Fredheads are on their phones right now, listening into pre-debate commentary on a nationwide conference call. John Rich, country singer, is on the call, pumping up supporters. Rich says Thompson's "a real guy … you can tell Fred really means what he's saying," and is challenging the supporters to "step it up." Former Senator George Allen (R.-Va) and Thompson's wife, Jeri, will also be participating throughout the debate with their commentary. This from Jeri: "We're really excited to be here and see what's going to happen."

7:08 pm ET: A few quick notes before

November 28, 2007 in Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (26)

User Comments

I'd like to hear the candidates opinions regarding health care. Do they consider health care a necessary social service like public schools or police and fire protection?

Posted by: Louis | Nov 28, 2007 5:18:21 PM

Please explain to me how we can fund giving everyone health care while social security, medicaid and medicare are going broke? Entitlements will eventually consume most of the federal budget leaving NOTHING for anything else including defense. Is this the new math baby boomer style?

Posted by: Gary | Nov 28, 2007 7:11:46 PM

ON INTRODUCTION THEY WERE INTRODUCED WITH THEIR FORMER TITLE GOVERNOR, SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN

Posted by: cane27 | Nov 28, 2007 8:14:37 PM

WHY????

Posted by: cane27 | Nov 28, 2007 8:15:49 PM

Romney sucker punched Rudy. Hooray!

Posted by: bob | Nov 28, 2007 8:22:50 PM

not only is rudy getting beat up tonight, he looks downright short standing between romney and thompson.

Posted by: handy andy | Nov 28, 2007 8:29:40 PM

doesnt mitts hard line on immigration put him at odds with the mormon community?

Posted by: slammin sammy | Nov 28, 2007 8:43:32 PM

Ron Paul is probably the most intellient GOP candidate but he is generally perceived as an alien.

Posted by: bob | Nov 28, 2007 8:49:07 PM

Wow. McCain is still great! He is he only GOP candidate I trust.

Posted by: bob | Nov 28, 2007 8:51:32 PM

First off, let us all be realistic! Clinton is going to get the nomination. Her only competition is a 30 something black guy! Also, her odds of winning the general election are far greater than people think. Just think, if the Rep. candidate is Guiliani, she will win. The only way I see her losing is if someone like Huckabee is the candidate or maybe even Romney. But, Huckabee is a nobody who would be better off running again in four years, and Romney is another huge flip-flopper who claims to be Republican after changing his views conveniantly at the age of 50 plus! Give me a break. Clinton for President.

Posted by: Scott S. | Nov 28, 2007 8:58:21 PM

Is Fred Thompson senile?

Posted by: bob | Nov 28, 2007 8:58:34 PM

Scott, please get your facts straight. Barack Obama is 46 years old now and if he wins will be 4 years older than JFK when he took office. Also, the latest poll shows Hillary trailing all 5 top GOP candidates while Obama leads them all. Hillary is a devisive and polarizing figure, something Ameeica does not need now.

Posted by: bob | Nov 28, 2007 9:08:06 PM

Rudy looking really pathetic tonight. McCain looking and sounding great.

Posted by: bob | Nov 28, 2007 9:14:44 PM

Ron Paul didn’t dance around the question of where he’d make cut backs like Fred did. He rarely does. Any of those departments mentioned and unmentioned has allocated money frivolously and without sound reasoning somewhere. Ron presents himself well, communicates his message well, & when someone tries to misconstrue his message, he clarifies and supports his reasoning. He has a sound policy which makes sense all the way. Even sheep can pick up his message and challenge the herd.

Posted by: Michelle | Nov 28, 2007 9:30:09 PM

It has become obvious that Ron Paul's ideals which align with more American people than all the other candidates combined have struck fear in most of the GOP candidates. When a man whose entire career and lifestyle mirrors the values that the founders would respect, and the American people have come to realize the media does not provide a reliable venue of political coverage, then the grass roots effort provide the only choice.

Posted by: Scott | Nov 28, 2007 9:57:51 PM

Ron Paul's thinking is the same thinking that allowed Hitler to destroy countries and millions of people. He could have been stopped but he wasn't because american appeasers spoke as Ron Paul. It is the 1930s and the enemy plots to destroy us. Will we have the national will to stop him or will the appeasers again cause a bloodbath?

Posted by: Gary | Nov 28, 2007 9:58:05 PM

Obama was the best thing that could happened to hillary. Before he emerged as a candidate the chief criticism of her was her lack of experience. When he ran he then took the heat off of her.

Posted by: Gary | Nov 28, 2007 10:00:28 PM

Illegal immigration is the number ONE issue with Americans. The elites don't want it to be but the people do. The candidate that DOES NOT take an uncompromising position in favor of securing the border, punishing employers that hire illegals and NO path to citizenship for illegals will fail.

Posted by: Gary | Nov 28, 2007 10:03:48 PM

Why did I not see any people of color in the galary this evening.

Posted by: James | Nov 28, 2007 10:16:58 PM

That's because the quota police were on holiday.

Posted by: Gary | Nov 28, 2007 10:24:48 PM

What was missing from this debate is the REAL NUMBER 1 ISSUE in America today. The housing and mortgage crisis effecting the Middle class. connect the dots. outsourcing high tech jobs and paying corporations oodles of money to do so, means no jobs, no money for mortgages. Then insourcing (green card) unexperienced unskilled uneducated high tech workers equals no jobs for locals no money for mortgages. Now combine that with employers trying to hire one american to do the jobs of 4 to 5 different skilled people and pay for the one lower wage of one of the skills and insisting that the american worker have the education and knowledge and skills and experience behind it only to have that american train the green card person who ends up taking his job. it happens to my husband in most of the hightech jobs he gets. and it will continue to happen until americans stand up and say ENOUGH ALREADY. GIVE US OUR JOBS. By the way, you cannot buy American if NOTHING IS MADE IN AMERICA ANYMORE. Wise up. you have been had.

Posted by: angeles | Nov 28, 2007 10:46:30 PM

Is it a fact that the gay retired general was planted in the audience by Hillary's staff? If so, how will CNN address this since it was clearly a question meant to raise ire among us Vets. And was then pursued by Anderson to boot!

Posted by: R. Hough | Nov 28, 2007 11:27:30 PM

Well CNN has confirmed the gay guy was on one of Hillary's steering committies and said if they had known before hand they would have announced it and most likely not allowed him to blabber on. Still a black eye for CNN, but what do you expect for the Clinton News Network.

Posted by: ragebot | Nov 28, 2007 11:44:48 PM

Just because Huckabee is a nobody doesn't mean he has no shot at winning the election. Look at the amazing progress he's made since he started running. He's already the top GOP candidate in Iowa and he's run only 2 political commercials since he's started campaigning, both of them not until after he was already second in Iowa and one of them being more of a joke add with Chuck Norris than an actual political add.
Now I'm not saying Huckabee's got it made and shouldn't worry, that's completely wrong. He still has a lot of work to do before he can claim his spot at the top of the Republican party, however with the progress he's made, I'd say you shouldn't rule him out.

Posted by: Tony | Nov 29, 2007 2:16:06 AM

Ron Paul isn't sain? This blogger plus all the other candidates....need to get checked for brain activity. How can they continue to promise more and more and at the same time say we need to balance the budget. The economy is in recession and only getting worse...that means less tax revenue...you don't believe it? In one month (Oct) the federal budget shortfall was $55 billion...that times 12 equals $660 billion deficit for 2008...a hell of allot more than the $175 billion the Bush budget projected. And that's probably being safe because the congress has only added to the spending number and as the economy gets worse the tax revenue will shrink. We could have a $1 trillion dollar deficit this year! Thanks Bush!

Posted by: Mike | Nov 29, 2007 3:11:51 AM

Wonder how it is that the Drudge headline is about the Hillary plant getting face time at the debate and CNN getting egg on its face and ABC does not mention the item. Drudge is also reporting confirmed Edwards and Obama voters were also questioners. IMHO Bush has not been a good prez, but he is not running and all the dems do is bash him in their debates. Why is it there are Hill plants to ask softball questions at dem debates and Hill plants to ask repub debates that try and humiliate the candidates there? The dems need to start worrying about whats gonna happen when there is a fair debate.

Posted by: ragebot | Nov 29, 2007 8:53:36 AM

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