Romney was smooth as cream, in command, and yes, likeable.  Even if the emphasis hadn’t been on the economy, which greatly favored him, I’d have narrowly given him the “gold”.  As it was, Mitt took the night by a comfortable margin.

McCain was sedate, but it was clear that he was laboring to try and get around that little detail of having kicked the Republican base in their happy places at every opportunity for the past seven years.  Note to Lord Queeg: Cramming every answer with several insistances of having a “conservative” record and how “proud” you are of it doesn’t make it so.  The expression, “Methink thou dost protest too much” comes to mind.  Next time try losing your temper.  At least it’d be a better diversion.

Rudy had some good moments, but my lasting impression of his performance tonight didn’t leave any lasting impression.  He seemed to be following along in Romney’s wake on the economic questions.  Given the level he had to be at tonight to reverse his Florida slide over the past month, I don’t think he got it done.  On the other hand, he might have the inside track at being Romney’s attorney-general.

Huckles?  “Dandy Don” Merideth said it best: “Turn out the lights, the party’s over….”

And what was Ron Paul doing on that stage?

-cross-posted at