The LuLac Edition #1908, January 19th, 2012

Debaters from left to right, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.

SOUTH CAROLINA DEBATE # 2

Saying that momentum was on his side after an announcement of victory in Iowa, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum attempted to weaken foes Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich with a series of direct attacks on the two front-runners in the last South Carolina debate ahead of the state's primary on Saturday.
Santorum charged both Romney and Gingrich would be weaker opponents against President Barack Obama. Santorum brought up health care and said neither could draw a contrast with the incumbent over health care policy.
A rejuvenated Santorum characterized the Massachusetts health care plan passed while Romney was governor "an abject disaster". Romney retorted that he'd get rid of Obama Care on day 1 and that he would have consumers have the ability to buy their own health insurance taking it from job to job. He also attacked Gingrich for supporting an individual mandate for over a decade.
The debate came at the end of a huge day that saw Santorum being declared winner of the Iowa caucuses more than two weeks after his apparent second-place showing to Romney. Texas Gov. Rick Perry then dropped out of the race and throwing his support to Gingrich. It is the last debate match up between the four candidates two days before Saturday's pivotal first in the South primary.
Things started off with a bang when a thoroughly pissed Gingrich criticized CNN for starting off with a question about reports that he offered his then-second wife a choice of an open marriage or divorce. He revealed to her he was having an affair with the woman he later made his third wife.Gingrich attacked the news media and King in particular saying he was appalled a Presidential debate would start with a question like that.
"To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine," retorted Gingrich who said CNN was peddling trash. Gingrich said that CNN chose to start the debate with it. Gingrich came out of the box swinging saying the “elite media” was attacking the GOP in hopes of getting Barack Obama re-elected. Gingrich's response elicited loud applause from the audience. Santorum said he was a Christian and was forgiving but it was up to the voters. Romney said that they needed to get to the real issues and Paul weighed in saying that corporations who run the media sometimes need to be looked at in terms of standards.
Recent polling of the race suggests that Gingrich has been enjoying a late surge in South Carolina, one that could threaten Romney's bid for a win that, his campaign hopes, would all but seal the nomination. South Carolina has correctly predicted the eventual Republican nominee since the inception of its primary in 1980; in each subsequent contest, the winner has gone on to become the GOP standard-bearer.
Romney has sought to project an air of inevitability surrounding his candidacy, but has been tagged by questions about the business practices of Bain Capital, the private equity firm he co founded, that go to the core of his argument that he is the candidate most experienced to repair the U.S. economy. Romney's work for Bain also made him wealthy, and Romney's GOP rivals have pressed him to release his tax returns.
He dealt with both issues in the debate. Romney sought to explain Bain's work in greater detail, highlighting instances in which its work created jobs. He avoided engaging with Republicans, like Gingrich, who have questioned Romney's private sector record.
It was Santorum, though, who put the most pointed questions to the two front runners. Santorum, who served in Congress while Gingrich was speaker, raised questions about whether Gingrich's conduct as a leader would lead to a "worrisome moment" for the GOP. That exchange opened up a broader, sharper discussion between the candidates on their backgrounds. Romney characterized Gingrich as a lifelong insider, and again touted his business experience as the best qualification for his candidacy. Whether Romney did much to reverse his slide likely won't be known until Saturday, when South Carolinians head to the polls. Debate settings have been a strength for Gingrich, and he, Paul and Santorum have relished the opportunity to pile on Romney in these settings.
Romney held his own but really had to struggle when pressed on his record as Governor. Santorum tried to make points by painting himself as the safe conservative alternative to Gingrich. Santorum seemed to be saying “you won’t have an October surprise from me. Ron Paul was all but eclipsed by the three others. Paul did win points by talking about support for veterans and saying he was embarrassed to produce his taxes saying he didn’t make as much money as the other three. Who won? Gingrich for his straight forward attacks and ability to turn any negative answer about himself to a positive. Santorum for his cogent attacks on Gingrich and Romney. Those were the two winners, Romney held his own and Paul placed.