Just got back from the hall. Watching these things in person is A LOT different than watching them at home.

The format won. There were no snowmen. The questions were substantive, and teed off some sharp exchanges.

Huckabee actually won. I wasn't a fan of his previous debate performances, but he dialed down the schtick. This was a debate performance he needed at a critical time.

Romney was steady and polished, but no standout answers. As usual.

"Sanctuary mansion" was the line of the debate. Help or hurt, it was gutsy.

John McCain did well, but only by teeing off on Ron Paul. It was like there was a Giuliani-Romney-Huckabee debate and a McCain-Ron Paul debate. Fred seemed Senatorial and Washington (everything was "in eight years in the United States Senate..." Yawn.)

Fred's attack spot was off place. Giuliani won the battle of the YouTube ads.

Off to the spin room.