via Ology.com editor Noah Rothman
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Newt Gingrich: (Previous letter grade: A- -- > B) Gingrich was battered by a fairly brutal series of attacks by all his opponents on stage – some he was able to parry effectively and some he was not. Overall, a marked improvement over December’s “frontrunner Newt,” who was routinely ruffled by attacks on his career as Speaker and lobbyist. Romney hit him hard on his recently released contract with Freddie Mac (which does not itself suggest any impropriety, but it comes from the mortgage giant’s public policy shop). Gingrich was at the disadvantage there, primarily because he does not have the truth on his side – he did not “lobby” as it is defined by the industry, but he did peddle influence and serve as the token conservative for the troubled GSE (as he probably did when he was working with conservatives on Medicare Part D – a program he defended vigorously last night). For those that hate lobbyists, influence, money, Washington and politicians in general, this will be tough for Gingrich to overcome. For those that see money and influence as an inexorable part of the political process, it’s not a big mark against him.
There were no “bad Newt” moments – he played the frontrunner role well. Gingrich had mostly good things to say about Santorum and Paul, perhaps as a way of engendering good faith should the convention come down to a delegate fight. Aside from a little trip-up with Romney where a mildly-painful silence followed a pointed question, he was fine. Not inspiring, not awful. Momentum in the polls does not materialize overnight; whatever momentum Gingrich derived from last week’s victories in South Carolina (two debates and an election) was not undone by his performance last night.
Full post here: http://www.ology.com/politics/republican-debate-scorecard-nbc-national-journal-debate-tampa-florida/01242012
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