Was Iowa GOP Debate a Game Changer?

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Welcome to The Journal Editorial Report I'm -- as you go the GOP candidates squared off Thursday night in their last debate.

Before the Iowa Caucuses with the new poll showing Mitt Romney Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.

Locked in a close race for first place some of the lower tier candidates tried to galvanize last minute support.

And make a final impression on Iowa voters.

I'm gonna get more -- like these debates matter fact I hope Obama not debate a -- not get there early.

We'll get it on and we will talk about our.

Our our differences which are right let me -- I hope I am that Tim Tebow of the Iowa Caucuses.

I think people and -- are coming around to finding.

That I am the consistent conservative in this race they're coming around to find that I'm not gonna pander.

I'm not connection -- myself into a pretzel to please -- audience and in front of me and I'm not gonna sign those silly pledges and you know what else I'm not an issue -- Donald Trump.

Debate.

So did they succeed joining the panel this week Wall Street Journal columnist and deputy editor.

Dan -- anger and editorial board members Jason Riley.

And Dorsey report it so they ended the debate do anything in your mind to change the fundamental contours of this or race.

I don't think so Paul -- I mean I really do believe that the racist now between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

With Ron Paul possibly playing the role of a spoiler.

The other simply didn't perform strongly enough they would have had to just knocked it out of the park.

That said Rick Perry can stay in this race unlike the others he does have money and money matters he gave a pretty credible performance he didn't blow himself up.

But I think at this point it's pretty much -- viewing around Romney and Gingrich -- Yes I think that's true but I think that all of them did show -- something quite definitive about themselves and it was fascinating -- that you did see that Santorum.

Is.

-- -- -- depressed.

And you can see it from the left to fight witness compared especially in the -- Who just went at it like the Energizer bunny and could not be stopped -- impressive and you -- Huntsman who is in -- realm all by himself talking about transactional matters and a lot.

Hey I like the flat tax that he -- that is John I think his tax reform plan is pretty darn good football there is some big problem every time politician says I'm not -- -- -- If Michelle Bachmann had a pretty good debate I mean for the second debate in a row I think she punched above -- wake up -- I think.

Newt Gingrich is weakest moment of the debate was responding to Michelle Bachmann charges over Freddie Mac and so I think she expose some vulnerabilities there in the front runners but I think.

You're right by a large the front runners.

Pretty much laid off one another and let the second tier -- -- after the OK I wanna deal with each of those questioned separately mean Michelle Bachmann did attack and and effectively in some areas against Newt Gingrich I would agree.

But did she make the case affirmative -- for herself.

That's the question I have she needs I know we Cheney's strategically -- not Gingrich down so she can do well and Iowa.

And move on past that she has to do relatively well.

I don't think so I mean it's very it's been very hot made it Bachmann Santorum and even Huntsman.

The way they come out to debate after -- and there's a sense that they're a little just organize in the -- that they want to present to people her theme is that everybody else's disqualified as conservative and she's the only conservative.

But she doesn't know why C.

The American people are so upset about several things 9% unemployment an economy that's dead in the water.

And and whether their taxes are going to be raised or not.

None of those subjects really came up in this debate and so they're Santorum and Bachmann and Huntsman are trying to prove that.

Other reasons why they should be supported at some point you have to connect with the concerns of the America well people how well did Gingrich defend himself did you think you do I -- -- he defended himself not as well as -- could've done -- that attack but believe me this was washed away by the second half of that today.

And you could tell when the -- was at have been very fiery hot best.

The tepid response from the audience was quite obvious to me those are not the issues that have raising as soon as you hit Gingrich talking and what I think -- his best moment.

Was that the pipeline to keystone -- -- -- own stuff.

Where he had everything -- its capacity to boil down everything from the left wing radicals say it from the president flooded that.

All of this what people are unemployed.

I think yeah I think Gingrich senators from the day I mean and I wish you would get over and hopefully compare himself to Thomas Jefferson Abraham Lincoln.

That was -- in the first -- left.

Aren't we wanna I wanna listen to us a bite here from Ron Paul talking about Iran.

For you to say that that's -- there's some scientific evidence in some -- people arguing that maybe -- year they might have a weapon.

There's a lot more saying they don't have it there's no UN evidence of that happening you -- I really fear about what's happening here.

It's another Iraq coming his war propaganda going on.

And I.

And we're arguing to -- the greatest danger is that we will have a president that will overreact.

Jason.

Give him credit for consistency.

That line every time but he is speaking Democrat African is that a winner politically now and that is exactly what disqualify them from becoming.

The nominee but Ron Paul also -- one of the most interesting responses tonight and it was actually -- non response was asked.

If he will eventually support if you will support the eventual nominee to the Republican.

The Republican nominee he did not answer that question I think that scares a lot of the Republican establishment because it means he's leaving open the door.

To a third party run which could cost a lot of if Romney does -- I mean if -- Ron Paul does well again in Ohio.

Is that is this disqualifying -- he just stopped there because he does have this fervent support.

He has started to -- -- but so have many leaders of the world we happen to have gone to war with I won't mention.

You know consistency they're all consistent to what are they consistent to back out.

If you looked at Ron -- you heard especially when he goes on a -- the bubble that he's in the more intense the emotion the less rational.

Okay our.

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Was Iowa GOP Debate a Game Changer?

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