GOP DEBATE WINNERS & LOSERS

The Republicans staged yet another presidential debate last night, this time in Las Vegas. Moderated by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, it was a “knock-em-down-drag-em-out” fight from start to finish, that ultimately didn’t create any new movement one way or the other for any of the candidates.  At one point things got so ugly, Newt Gingrich was forced to tell his colleagues “maximizing bickering is probably not the road to the White House.” And surprisingly, he may be right. In case you missed it, here’s a list of the winners and the losers:

WINNER

If any one Republican could be considered a winner last night, it was probably Mitt Romney, who held his own, maintained his position, didn’t gain any ground, but didn’t lose any either. Romney is straight out of central casting, as he looks presidential and certainly knows how to “rise above” trivial bickering and at least appear presidential.  But the Republican powers that be just don’t like him, either due to him being a Mormon, or not being conservative enough for their tastes.  But if the Republican convention were held today, Mitt Romney would probably get the nomination, likely setting off a civil war within the party.  Stay tuned!

LOSER
If there was any one Republican loser last night, it was probably Herman Cain, who got gang rushed almost from the very beginning by his counterparts.  As expected, the other candidates took turns pummeling and beating Cain with everything they could muster, attacking his “9-9-9” plan as an impossibility, while questioning his readiness for the most powerful position in the world.  Cain is not used to wearing the bullseye as a front runner and found himself ducking and dodging sneak attacks from all angles.  This was Cain’s moment to seize his top dog status and run with it.  But his political naivete, lack of funds and a legitimate staff, and this being his first time at the rodeo, may have caught up with him.  Herman Cain is the flavor of the month in the “Anybody But Romney” ice cream store.  But soon, he will fall from grace and disappear into oblivion just like Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry did.  Stay tuned!

HONORABLE MENTION
Rick Perry was once the savior of the Republican party.  When he announced his run for the presidency, Republicans pictured him riding in on a white horse to save the country from the despicable Democrat currently occupying the Oval Office.  But oh, how the mighty have fallen.  Rick Perry disappeared in the debates weeks ago and has never fully recovered.  Analysts were expecting him to make a break out appearance in Las Vegas last night, but he didn’t.  And so, the star that was once hitched to Rick Perry has fizzled and is almost no longer worth a grade.  Rick Perry gets an honorable mention — at least until you forget he’s even in the race at all — which may be sooner than later.  Stay tuned!

GRAND PRIZE WINNER
As the Republicans bickered, argued, slung accusations, interrupted and shouted over each other, Barack Obama sat comfortably in the White House residence as the incumbent President of the United States, unopposed by anyone in his own party, and counting donations as he nears his goal of raising a record $1 billion dollars in his reelection bid.  All President Obama has to do is stand back and, instead of beating up on Republicans, allow the Republicans to continue beating up on each other.  Then when the last candidate standing limps out of the GOP convention, wounded and financially handicapped by a contentious primary, President Obama can then take his billion dollar political war chest and finish off his GOP contender with a powerful blow.