Thursday Night's Republican Debate

The two big winners tonight were Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

As regular readers know, I've never been a fan of Romney (I just don't trust him) and as for Newt... over the past few years he's lost much of my respect via actions such as his "reluctant" support of TARP and by supporting government subsidized ethanol production - not to mention "private" actions that simply rub me the wrong way.

This said... I call 'em as I see 'em and what I saw tonight was two men - Gingrich and Romney - elevated themselves by their performances in my eyes.

The biggest loser?

Heck... it's not even a close call! Tonight's "Biggest Loser" was without doubt Chris Wallace.

Gingrich simply tore Wallace to pieces - and clawed a bit of flesh off moderator Bret Baier as well!

Michele Bachmann? Pawlenty went after her. Santorum went after her. (*SHRUG*)

The panel members questioning the candidates obviously had a pre-planned agenda to push Pawlenty and Bachmann into a brawl and they succeeded.

Santorum's only shot at a VP slot is to take out Bachmann - so he tried his best. (*SHRUG*)

The thing is... while Bachmann didn't do as well in this debate compared to the first debate, in my view Pawlenty put paid to any chance he ever had at winning the nomination and as for Santorum... as previously noted... he just had to take Bachmann out in order to preserve even the hope of a VP slot. He failed.

Huntsman? (Let's put it this way: Jon Who...???)

Cain? He did o.k.... perhaps o.k. enough to be Secretary of Commerce in the next Republican Presidential administration.

Ron Paul? Hey... if I could make Ron Paul President of the United States I would, but the average American simply just doesn't know enough to understand how right Ron Paul is on so many issues.

To bottom line it, at least based upon tonight's debate, Newt Gingrich has emerged as a real contender for the VP slot under... well... any Republican candidate who becomes the eventual nominee.

(Heck... Newt may even have won the title "Dark Horse GOP Presidential Nominee" via his stellar performance tonight!)

That said... Michele Bachmann is also a strong contender for the VP slot.

To those who viewed Mitt Romney as the smart money odds on favorite for the GOP nod prior to tonight's debate... (*PAUSE*)... even though I'm not one of you, I must state my opinion that following this evening's debate... Mitt is (for the moment) leading the pack.

Ah... but what about Rick Perry, Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani?

I doubt Palin will run. I may be wrong. We'll see.

Same with Giuliani.

Perry though... (*PAUSE*)... his "unofficial" entry into the race is about as "official" as it can get prior to an actual official announcement following filing all the necessary paperwork.

Perry's candidacy is a game changer as I see it. The moment Perry enters the race, he becomes the new front runner - at least as far as I'm concerned.

Here's the thing about Perry: he could choose Bachmann as his running mate and that would work... he could choose Gingrich as his running mate and that would work... he could choose Giuliani as his running mate and that would work...

Heck! He could even choose Sarah Palin as his running mate and... assuming she'd do it... that would make a mighty strong ticket and indeed draw all the oxygen out of the room.

(I know you Palin haters violently disagree... but you're wrong; Palin would rehabilitate herself on the campaign trail with Rick Perry at the head of the ticket.)

Anyway... we'll see what the newspapers, the "experts," and the pundits have to say about the debate when the sun rises tomorrow and no doubt all through the weekend.