A short video commentary by T.J. Walker evaluating Mitt Romney’s performance in a presidential debate. Walker argues this was Romney’s best debate ever—highlighting improved temperament, effective balance between conservatism and reasonableness, strong exchanges with Rick Perry, and appeal to undecided voters—while noting occasional elitist tone.
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So how did Mitt Romney do in the debate tonight? Well, I think this was actually the best debate Mitt Romney has ever had in his entire life. Better than any so far this year, Better than any four years ago. He was funny, he was light on his feet, he was quick with the jab, he had substance. And for really the first time, he hit the right balance between trying to seem like a real conservative, not disavowing his past, and yet not pandering. He really hit strong conservative themes throughout the evening, and yet he didn't go too far. He had a chance to call Obama a socialist. He didn't take the bait. He's just not comfortable with that. And I give him credit for not just willingly pandering. He also was attacked for, for supporting Obama's education secretary and he said, no, what the education secretary did was a good thing. So he seemed much more reasonable and better temperament when it comes to what people want in a president than a lot of the other candidates up there. And yet he still seemed conservative, and that's essential in a Republican primary. So he hit the right balance there. Every exchange he had with Rick Perry tonight, he, he seemed to get the better of. There were moments when he sort of brushed off Perry's attacks with almost. It evoked images of Ronald Reagan saying, well, there you go again to Jimmy Carter. He was much more confident, much more, not arrogant, but almost slapping down Rick Perry. I think that's going to play very well for voters who did not pay close attention to Mitt Romney last time. It didn't follow his whole career. If they're looking at him for the first time, I think they would come across with a feeling that this guy is conservative, he's very bright, he's got a good mix of background, was a governor, mostly a private sector guy. I think Mitt Romney gains the most from any undecided voters watching this. Now, he still has the problem of sometimes sounding a little too elitist. Oh, it's an existential threat. He likes to use big words. He occasionally shows off his Harvard law degree a little too much for a politician. But overall, I give him extraordinarily high marks. I think that compared to the last two debates, this was a much better victory for him, which is going to be a little tough for his own advisors because they declared last debate such a huge victory for him. But this one really was. I think this helps him most in part because he did well, in part because his primary adversary, Rick Perry, really stumbled a few times and did not have a great night. I'm T.J. walker for the Daily National.
