For general election purposes, Wednesday’s debate in Mesa, Arizona could have essentially been boiled down to one question: Who likes Sarah Palin?
There’s a right answer for the primary, a right answer for the general, and never the twain shall meet. And that was, for the Republican field, the way it was with many of the questions.
The contraceptive controversy, insufficiently framed as a religious liberty issue, bites one way before the convention, and another after it. Illegal immigration is on one side of the primary electorate, and another side of key blocs in the general.
And the long, meandering discussion of earmarks was so opaque and laden with process it’s tough to tell if any voter came away impressed.
Mitt Romney seemed back on his game, Rick Santorum seemed unfocused, not opportunistic enough on an auto bailout answer he could have owned, and he betrayed too much transactional behavior in his legislative past, the very model of a modern American senator. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul demonstrated little ability to wrest back momentum.
Discussions of jobs? Frankly, absent. Renewed worries for President Obama? Not in much larger supply.
-- Jim O'Sullivan
NATIONAL JOURNAL’S PRIMARY REPORT
In Debate, Santorum and Romney Try to Control the Field
[New York Times, 2/22/12] Mitt Romney went on offense against Rick Santorum's record of fiscal conservatism, repeatedly drilling the former senator over his voting record, including the legendary "bridge to nowhere." Santorum, looking to preserve his strong footholds in Arizona and Michigan, parried and fought back, the Times reports. The 20th debate, the paper said, found "Mr. Romney fighting to reassert control over the race and Mr. Santorum trying to keep his surge alive.
Romney, Santorum Go After Each Other in Debate
[CNN, 2/22/12] From earmarks to Iran, the candidates attached each other’s records on a wide range of issues. While Romney saw the most support from the audience, members of the crowd sometimes booed Santorum.
Earmarks Prove Tricky Subject for Santorum
[National Journal, 2/22/12] Tonight's debate was among the most important two hours of Rick Santorum's presidential campaign. So it probably wasn't a boon that he spent much of it defending one of Congress's most unpopular practices: earmarks. National Journal campaign reporter Alex Roarty reports.
Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum Get Personal in Arizona
[Politico, 2/22/12] The pivotal Arizona debate quickly became a "flurry of bitter charges and counter-charges on the size of government" between Romney and Santorum, Politico writes. Santorum fought back and acknowledged regretting some votes, but worked to depict Romney as a hypocrite on earmarks.
Romney Lobbied Arlen Specter For Federal Money In 2005
[Huffington Post, 2/22/12] Romney criticized Santorum for his previous support of Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter, which put Santorum on the defensive for a good portion of the debate. But Huffington Post’s Sam Stein finds reports Romney once praised Specter in 2005, even asking him for federal funds.
Santorum Hits Romney For 'Adopting The Occupy Wall Street Rhetoric'
[BuzzFeed, 2/22/12] Toward the beginning of the debate, Santorum attacked Romney for using Occupy Wall Street language. He accused Romney, a man who made his fortune in the private sector, of raising taxes while he was the governor of Massachusetts.
Santorum Stumbles on Contraception
[National Journal, 2/22/12] NJ’s Michael Hirsh says Santorum’s running for president, not pope, a distinction that may have been lost in the candidate’s discussion of contraception.
FACT CHECK: Gingrich Claim on Obama Infanticide Vote A Stretch
[National Journal, 2/22/12] President Obama did not vote to legalize infanticide and the media did not ignore the issue, contrary to Newt Gingrich’s charges, an NJ fact check finds.
Did Santorum Win by Not Losing?
[National Journal, 2/22/12] Since Santorum was due for a debate beating, perhaps Wednesday night's outcome wasn't the worst for him, writes John Aloysius Farrell.
Vintage Newt (Or is That Dwight Schrute?) Gets Campaign Debut
[Yahoo, 2/22/12] Gingrich has often touted his relationship with conservative hero Ronald Reagan, making the case that he was conservative before the other candidates on the stage. Newt.org plans on posting a retro photo of Gingrich with the caption, “Newt Gingrich: Conservative before it was cool.”
Paul on Santorum: 'He's a Fake'
[National Journal, 2/22/12] Candidates didn’t waste any time going after each other in the debate Wednesday night. After Ron Paul called Santorum “a fake,” a thrown Santorum quickly responded, “I’m real; I’m real.” Take a look at the video clip, provided by BuzzFeed.
Romney in a Michigan Rut
[National Journal 2/22/12] In Michigan, Romney is struggling to make inroads: He is caught between appealing to conservative voters uneasy with government intervention in the private sector, and an overall electorate that supports the government bailout of the auto industry. So far, Romney isn't winning over either crowd. The Detroit News endorsed him on Wednesday.
Santorum’s Views On Sex and Religion Keep Him From Talking About Economy
[National Journal, 2/22/12] Santorum is trying to unite the Republican right against Romney, but at some point he has to move beyond the GOP social activists to the greater number of Republicans who rank the economy as the number one issue, as National Journal’s John Aloyisus Farrell writes.
Santorum Tells Tea Party Crowd He'd Be Willing to Break Up Illegal Immigrant Families
[National Journal, 2/22/12] Breaking up the huddled masses? Santorum told a crowd of tea party supports in Arizona today that he would secure the nation’s borders, going far as to suggest he was willing to break up some families with illegal immigrants. Time’s Michael Scherer writes about how the Latino vote could be decisive in the November election.
Gingrich Launches 30-Minute Energy Spot in Super Tuesday States
[National Journal, 2/22/12] It’s the Newt Gingrich Show! Starting on Saturday night, the former House speaker will air a 30-minute speech on the energy policy in key Super Tuesday states. The speech – which was filmed last week in California – was given “without a teleprompter or text,” a clear swipe at President Obama. Gingrich is set to address the rising gas prices, which Republicans have used recently to attack the president.
Santorum ‘Unplugged’
[National Review, 2/22/12] Santorum's tendency to go off-script, to speak and interact with supporters with little preparation, is often a boon for the candidate on the campaign trail. But following a series of polarizing statements from the candidate, many are wondering if that tendency could be Santorum's downfall.
Gingrich Launches 30-Minute Energy Spot in Super Tuesday States
[National Journal, 2/22/12] Gingrich, who has recently seized on the issue of increasing gas prices and blamed Obama’s energy policies as part of the problem, is set to air a 30-minute energy spot in several states that vote on Super Tuesday on March 6.
Santorum’s Newspaper Columns Offer A Window Into His Mind
[Washington Post, 2/22/12] The Post says the former Senator comes across as “a tremendous downer” in many of his columns for The Philadelphia Inquirer. In his two-and-a-half years as a columnist, Santorum wrote on gay marriage, Iran, and movies that deal with abortion.
Polls: Romney Leads in Ariz., Tied in Mich.
[National Journal, 2/22/12] Romney is locked in a neck-and-neck battle with Santorum for next Tuesday’s Michigan primary, but Romney holds a double-digit lead in the other state to vote on Feb. 28, Arizona.
Santorum Attends Church on Ash Wednesday; Gingrich Skips It
[National Journal, 2/22/12] While both Gingrich and Santorum are practicing Roman Catholics, only Santorum left the campaign trail briefly for Ash Wednesday service. The former Pennsylvania senator attended Mass in Mesa, Ariz., and had the visible ashes on his forehead for the day’s events.
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