Why Mitt Romney Didn’t Get Attacked In Saturday Night’s Debate
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The assumption was that Saturday’s ABC/WMUR debate was going to produce some serious fireworks.
After all, you have a front-runner who is quickly assuming the mantle of the “inevitable” nominee. If ever there was a time for his rivals to try and change the trajectory of this race, this was it.
Instead, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman took only glancing blows at Romney, while Ron Paul battled with Santorum and Gingrich.
So, why was the conventional wisdom so wrong?
1) It’s a lot easier to attack someone when you aren’t standing three feet away from him. Rick Santorum was exactly where he said he’s always wanted to be in this campaign. In the center of the stage and in the spotlight. But, he also discovered, as many others have before him, that with that new position on stage comes additional and unexpected pressures. Making an attack on the campaign trail is easy. Saying it to someone’s face is hard.
2) The Likability Factor: For months now, the focus has been on which candidate can ultimately become the “not-Mitt” alternative. And, every week it seems, there has been a different alternative. But, voters want to do more than vote against a candidate, they want to vote FOR someone. Attacking Romney would only remind voters about what they disliked about a candidate instead of what they liked about him. Moreover, when Gingrich and Santorum go on the attack, they can come across as snide or mean, the opposite of likable.
3) The Future: Specifically, candidates on stage had to be thinking of their political future. Did Gingrich want to be known as the candidate that did a slash and burn job on the eventual nominee or that his biting attack on Romney was turned into a devastatingly effective ad for Obama?
Don’t be fooled, just because the candidates held their fire tonight doesn’t mean that they won’t be battling Romney going forward. In fact, some already have their surrogates – the SuperPACs – doing the attacking for them in South Carolina.
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Stephanopolus acted like a debate participant and a surrogate for OBAMA. When is ABC going to stop being an agent for the DNC?
Posted by: Byron Allen | January 8, 2012, 7:47 am 7:47 am
I agree, Stephs tone, words and questions bent toward his ideological leanings. These were not questions designed to see how good a POTUS these candidates would be, but rather attacks phrased in the form of questions. Some were so hypothetical as to border on ridiculous. I would say ABC did a disservice to its viewers but i suspect most of ABCs declining viewership is hardcore Obama fans and Leftest. .
Posted by: William | January 8, 2012, 8:12 am 8:12 am
I’ve watched all the debates and this was the WORST and most LAME so far. The questions were pathetic, gotcha questions; the moderators were awful and low-rung. Diane Sawyer was dramatic and “affected” in her mannerisms with her exaggerated hair flipping and facial expressions. These people are so incompetent. “States outlawing contraception George”–REALLY???? Good God!!!
Why don’t you ask Obama about that CT SSN, missing school records and lack of any information regarding his scholastic background? You guys certainly crawled up George Bush’s behind with a proctoscope and a floodlight!! Why the different standard? Be careful–your BIAS is showing.
Posted by: enoughalready | January 8, 2012, 8:15 am 8:15 am
This debate was the worst of the Republican debates I have seen (and I’ve watched them all so far). The narrators seemed inexperienced and even amateur … especially Diane Sawyer – her deliverance is annoying at best.
Posted by: David Scheller | January 8, 2012, 8:20 am 8:20 am
Wow, George has once again demonstrated his total lack of objective journalistic integrity. I am truly embarrased for anyone associated with the production of the “first debate of 2012″. This only affirms the charge that the so called “main stream media” is in the pocket of the Democratic Party and can’t really be trusted anymore for honest unbiased journalism.
Posted by: Rick | January 8, 2012, 8:34 am 8:34 am
What do you mean — “DIDN’T GET ATTACKED”?
George Stephanopoulos attacked at every opportunity! What was the backup for George Stephanopoulos’ job numbers attack? What in the world was George Stephanopoulos talking about when he got into the questioning of ‘states providing contraceptives??
There was a couple of losers last night: George Stephanopoulos and ABC!
Posted by: OldGrunt | January 8, 2012, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Stop complaining about the moderators and focus on the debate topics and the debater–Waffling Willard, Saint Santorum, Scarey Perry, Ron Paul I, Newt Grinch-rich, and Jon Dunceman should be the topic.
Posted by: Ted TampaBay | January 8, 2012, 9:09 am 9:09 am
You do know that these Candidates did not have to show up for the debate. Or they could have had Fox News run the debate, or Donald Trump. Or would that have been too obvious?
Posted by: mike | January 8, 2012, 9:15 am 9:15 am
Romney looked unflappable and Presidential even under George’s relentless attacks! Thanks George for allowing this to happen!
Posted by: Common _ Sense | January 8, 2012, 9:16 am 9:16 am
I watched the debate and thought ABC did treat the participants fairly. It seemed they were on Obama’s side. JMHO.
Posted by: Kim | January 8, 2012, 9:19 am 9:19 am
ENOUGHALREADY | JANUARY 8, 2012, 8:15 AM 8:15 AM… “Why don’t you ask Obama about that CT SSN, missing school records and lack of any information regarding his scholastic background?”… Really!! Are you still revisiting an issue that’s been debunked, obviously discrediting this President is your primary focus including people of your ilk. No European-American/Anglo-American President in this nation’s history has been scrutinized as our current President… Move on!!
Posted by: mticervin | January 8, 2012, 9:26 am 9:26 am
George needs to get a life, get out of his glass house, and play with the big boys.
Posted by: BG | January 8, 2012, 9:44 am 9:44 am
Wow. WOW. I mean… WOW!!! I have NEVER seen such open cheerleading for Obama until last night. I’m glad the make-up people had time to get the brown mark on George’s nose covered up, but it was still obvious the moderators were hostile to not just the candidates but Republicans in general, and huuuuuuuuuge liberal Obama worshippers.
ABC should be embarrassed.
Posted by: Dan | January 8, 2012, 9:50 am 9:50 am
Absolutely the worst moderator I have ever seen! Bar none!
Posted by: mikekat | January 8, 2012, 10:00 am 10:00 am
I think George (who was sweating profusely down his nose) Stephanlopus lost a lot respect last night. His fixation on privacy as it relates to states enforcing contraception was utterly stupid and a waste of time. With so many other more important matters facing this country why in the world was he stuck on stupid with asking and re asking such an silly question. I’m glad Romney embarrassed him and put him in check. He along with Dianne Sawyer should be barred from moderating any future debates. I refuse to watch again if they moderate. They asked horrible questions. They maybe good reporters but they are horrible moderators. I think my 4 year would’ve moderated this debate better than they could.
Posted by: DMA | January 8, 2012, 10:02 am 10:02 am
As a conservative independent, I find most of the republicans are lacking in those objects of masculinity. Newt is a look alike for the dough boy only with an attitude. Romney is like a great magician(Now you see me, now you don’t). Paul looks like he is a prime candidate for a geriatric t.v. show called Mr. Paul’s retirement home. Perry looks and acts like he would be a front man for western cigarette sales-only the Marlboro man was way smarter. That only leaves Santorum and I would have to vote for him but Romney is gonna win so hold your nose and vote Romney.
Posted by: rockychance | January 8, 2012, 10:07 am 10:07 am
GEOrGE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN OFF THESE DEBATES!!! what king of jerk is he??? he is the phimpiest guy ever…my god asking the dumbest questions..what is wrong with him…is he so far up obama butt..be can’t see the sun????????? WHY is he on this channel….they have to get rid of him…he made a fool of himself..and sooooooo RUDE!!!!!!!!!!!! i would like to have heard MORE ABOUT THE ECONOMY etc..that all the men pitting each other…that is sad!! NOONE turns on these debates to hear the bickering…lets talk smart…WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR AMERICA!!!!!!! GET GEORGE-FACE OFF MY SET…WHAT A DISGRACE HE IS !!!!!!!!!
Posted by: ANNIE | January 8, 2012, 10:08 am 10:08 am
If this is how they are going to manage the debates they should get Vince McMahon and his crew to host and comment. At least they don’t pretend to be journalists.
Posted by: John Welch | January 8, 2012, 10:24 am 10:24 am
Politics is a chess game. Let the little ones fight it out leaving the major kill in the end to win. thats the End game
Posted by: Jonathan | January 8, 2012, 10:56 am 10:56 am
Worst moderating I have seen since the debates began.
Posted by: Robert | January 8, 2012, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Is Georgie campaigning for Reggie Loves old job? It is obvious he is no longer a journalist.
These two should NOT be allowed to do a debate between Obama and the Republican candidate. It is obvious they would give their questions to Obama in advance.
ABC continues to sink to new lows.
Posted by: wheresmymoney | January 8, 2012, 11:03 am 11:03 am
ABC in the pocket of the democratic party? You bet! By the way, can anyone find the incident where Gingrich slammed the liberal media for not being fair with the religious bashing in which the administration has engaged? Cleverly left out of their reporting. Same with CNN article that came up today…
Posted by: Jim Newlon | January 8, 2012, 11:06 am 11:06 am
Good gawd what a terrible lousy job by the moderators who are obviously partisan left wing hacks. ABC= All Barack Channel.
Posted by: Sophie | January 8, 2012, 11:15 am 11:15 am
What a waste of time – asking if Romney supports a state banning contraceptives. Why not ask some questions that have a bit of reality attached to them. Many of the questions were lame or designed as bait. Poor job!
Posted by: Rick | January 8, 2012, 11:16 am 11:16 am
The biggest con job of the night has to go to the former speaker…
Nobody does pompous and sanctimonious like a conservative, especially Newt Gingrich. At one point he actually sounded plausible when he was defending religion by turning logic on its head. With anger in his voice he says: “Should the Catholic Church be forced to close its adoption services in Massachusetts because it won’t accept gay couples? Should the Catholic Church be driven out of providing charitable services in the District of Columbia because it won’t give in to secular bigotry?” That’s reverse discrimination he scolds! To that I say, what a manipulative imbecile!
Never once does he mention that the 20 million LGBT citizens in this country whose taxes are used to fund those “Charitable” services are forced to give money to the same church that wants to deny gay couples a chance to raise a child. Essentially his argument is that the government whose job it is to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority is behaving with bigotry by not letting the church selectively discriminate with public funds. HELLO??
This is what he calls “Secular Bigotry”? The man is the biggest charlatan this side of Orion, and unfortunately, Republicans applauded wildly at his warped logic in the same way they cheered for the disrespect toward our gay troops and letting the uninsured die.
Posted by: Mark | January 8, 2012, 11:16 am 11:16 am
____”I’ve watched all the debates and this was the WORST and most LAME so far. The questions were pathetic, gotcha questions; the moderators were awful and low-rung. Diane Sawyer was dramatic and “affected” in her mannerisms with her exaggerated hair flipping and facial expressions. These people are so incompetent. “States outlawing contraception George”–REALLY???? Good God!!!
Why don’t you ask Obama about that CT SSN, missing school records and lack of any information regarding his scholastic background? You guys certainly crawled up George Bush’s behind with a proctoscope and a floodlight!! Why the different standard? Be careful–your BIAS is showing.”
POSTED BY: ENOUGHALREADY | JANUARY 8, 2012, 8:15 AM 8:15 AM____________________This is just a personal opinion. Unfortunately, it doesn’t count. So,stop whining. Give it a rest and move on.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | January 8, 2012, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Amy Walter lose that ridiculous hair do. Little georgie porgie was absolutely shameful with his stupid questions biased questions. He is obviously a schill for the DNC…he is probably out washing obama’s car today. Sawyer, the mad stork, tries to turn every news story into a an oprah minute. Why she was ever allowed to do this or be the anchor on the evening news is bewildering at best.
Posted by: Doc Bill | January 8, 2012, 11:21 am 11:21 am
Stephanopolus acted like a debate participant and a surrogate for OBAMA. When is ABC going to stop being an agent for the DNC?
POSTED BY: BYRON ALLEN | JANUARY 8, 2012, 7:47 AM 7:47 AM______________How would you compare ABC news to the “fair and balanced” Fox noisemakers?
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | January 8, 2012, 11:21 am 11:21 am
___”There was a couple of losers last night: George Stephanopoulos and ABC!”
POSTED BY: OLDGRUNT | JANUARY 8, 2012, 8:50 AM 8:50 AM______________The real loser was Rick “going back to Iraq” Perry.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | January 8, 2012, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Gingrich, Santorum, and Paul all want the anti-Romney spot, so they need to take the others down. They all except that Romney is going to win NH and SC, but since the delegates are proportionate, they all just need to hang on until one of them emerges as the anti-Romney. Also, there is real resentment between the candidates and they are acting out. Huntsman was phoning it in, because he knows its over for him. Perry also knows it’s over for him, but he phoned it in because he has high-power super PAC backers he needs to keep happy.
Posted by: GreggW | January 8, 2012, 11:26 am 11:26 am
Romney was not attacked because the strategy is to eliminate the weaker competition first. Doing such will build the strength of the second place contender, improving his odds of beating the stronger opponent. And I thought ABC’s debate was quite pathetic. Meet the press was better but still sadly lacking.
Posted by: Susiejoe1952 | January 8, 2012, 11:28 am 11:28 am
How would you compare ABC news to the “fair and balanced” Fox noisemakers?
POSTED BY: NOFLYZONE2 | JANUARY 8, 2012, 11:21 AM+++FOX puts ABC to shame. Haven’t you noticed more and more appearances by ABC reporters frequently showing up on FOX as guests? The list includes Sawyer, Ross, Stephanopoulos, Walters,etc…
Posted by: william | January 8, 2012, 11:30 am 11:30 am
The reasons nobody is attacking Mitt Romney is they are looking for a job if Mitt Romney gets in! The only person who isn’t looking for a job is Ron Paul-he says what he truly believes.
Posted by: colleen | January 8, 2012, 11:33 am 11:33 am
Stephanopolus was a real amatuer in that debate. He’s too much of a Democratic party partisan. He actually got booed and deserved them and more boos. Also he’s too hung up on contraceptives!!!!!!!
Posted by: Holly | January 8, 2012, 11:35 am 11:35 am
This whole debate was asinine. The nerve that they claim Romney wasn’t “attacked” is school yard, lunch room BS. Not to mention that they want to sit there and say Mitt Rom “won” the debate, which horribly bias since they pretty much gave him most of the face time and excluding RP from almost all the questions. Every time the came around to RP they asked him a completely different question and more than half the time it was a BS question. Watching the mods instigate bickering against the candidates early on was sickening.
Posted by: ALex | January 8, 2012, 11:36 am 11:36 am
Just another reason why I do not watch ABC news, programs, advertisers.
I do not have time to waste listening to ignorant questions such as stepolopounuess asked. So dont feel like you are loosing me because of the flubbed programs lately, you lost me long ago.
Posted by: bubba | January 8, 2012, 11:40 am 11:40 am
Gingrich and Paul are not interested in the VP spot, but Huntsman, Santorum, or Perry might be. Gingrich only wanted to increase the value of his brand for his “not a lobbyist” career. Paul is not suitable for the VP spot. Huntsman is too similar to Ronmey and brings nothing to the ticket. Santorum would bring support from the social “conservatives”. Perry would bring tea party support.
Posted by: GreggW | January 8, 2012, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
Unlike you guys, the candidates on the stage last night are big boys. They can handle tough, “unfair”, “ridiculous” questions just fine without getting flustered. Like Gingrich said, you must have broad shoulders and thick skin to be President. Politics is a full contact sport. If you can’t handle the heat, stay home and whine on the internet message boards about the “lame stream media”. Besides, these guys on stage need practice to become battle hardened before facing off with Obama in the last stage of the presidential campaign.
Ron Paul, the resident “Constitutionalist” on stage, answered George’s question about banning birth control succinctly, maturely, rationally, and eloquently, rather than mocking the ridiculousness of the question and ducking the question. Dr. Paul favored patient privacy over banning contraceptives. Simple, to the point, with references to specific points in the Constitution. Why couldn’t flip-flop Romney answer it like that? JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION!!
By the way, that is a pertinent question. The morning-after pill, or “Plan B”, works by preventing implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine lining. It subsequently gets flushed out with the menstrual flow. This counts as abortion in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Rick Santorum is Catholic. Catholic pharmacists and doctors are refusing to give patients access to birth control pills. A state law banning abortion can cover birth control pills as well because birth control pills kill unborn babies. It is not a “stupid” question. A Catholic like Rick Santorum did not treat it as a “stupid”, “pointless” question. Rick believes Griswold v CT gave too much power to patient privacy at the expense of killing unborn babies, all perpetrated by judicial activists. Why couldn’t Mitt Romney say that?
Posted by: paging Dr. Wambulance | January 8, 2012, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
It was such a shame to see Mitt smirking the entire time Ron Paul was speaking and to see the other candidates so uneducated about the constitution that they don’t even know it’s illegal to go to war without congressional approval. The best quote of the night belonged to Paul and to paraphrase it, Obama is our Commander in Chief, yes, but he’s not the King. Think about how much power you want your government having and make informed decision before spouting off at the mouth with such foolish dribble.
Posted by: Theresa | January 8, 2012, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
The disconnected and unprofessional ABC News commentators were on display more than the candidates. Does the ABC News staff really think GOP primary voters really are concerned about whether states might ban contraception? I don’t even know why the GOP allows such discredited and obviously biased networks to moderate their debates. And Ron Paul’s 20 year old newsletters? You still haven’t looked into Obama’s grades, his association with terrorists or his anti American “pastor”.
Posted by: Steve | January 8, 2012, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Stefanoopolis and Sawyer were totally biased in their questions. ABC should fire them.
Posted by: J | January 8, 2012, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
Exactly right – Ron Paul is running to defeat Romney, the others are jockeying for their political career. So if you want to help Rick Santorum get a cabinet position, go vote for him.
If you want Newt Gingrich to – get some additional consulting gigs or speaking engagements, you can vote for him.
If you see no point in electing another big government type, then vote for Ron Paul.
If you want a Republican party that is another populist party no different than the Democrats – enacting government control of healthcare, nation building middle eastern countries, not paying for these expenses but borrowing from China to do it – then you go ahead and vote for Romney.
Because your club wins, and not the other club – not that it makes any difference in terms of the future of the country, but if your selfishness overwhelms, Romney is a good choice.
Obviously I support Ron Paul, and if he doesn’t get the nod, I’ll sit at home on election day and watch the folly.
Yes, I have zero intention of going into a voting booth and actually helping a person like Romney.
Posted by: RoboBobo1 | January 8, 2012, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
ABC -what a terrible joke-if this country wasn’t in such a mess-ABC’ and team’s performance would have been funny
Posted by: HockeyMom | January 8, 2012, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
Surprise! Surprise! ABC is libral and in Romney and Obama’s pocket.
Posted by: will | January 8, 2012, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
ABC news is doing whatever they can to blacklist Ron Paul. A recent 20 minute Round Table discussion on their site only had 1 single mention of Paul, and it was only when they said his name. ABC is not a trustworthy news source, just like all the other mainstream news channels in American who have a biased agenda. It has never been more clear that there is no Freedom of the Press in the United States. ABC is one of the worst offenders, right after Fox News.
Posted by: Kyle | January 8, 2012, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
Stop complaining about the moderators and focus on the debate topics and the debater–Waffling Willard, Saint Santorum, Scarey Perry, Ron Paul I, Newt Grinch-rich, and Jon Dunceman should be the topic.POSTED BY: TED TAMPABAY | JANUARY 8, 2012********Don’t forget Mittbama
Posted by: michael | January 8, 2012, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
ABC, I was quite taken back by the fact that only one mic (Ron Pauls) had microphone feedback.
ABC, like the majority of the competitors, use state of the art, high definition equipment
making this situation extremely rare to occur.
The sound person on the set should be reprimanded, if not dismissed. This should have never
happened.
Posted by: michael | January 8, 2012, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
Why hasn’t gun control come up?
Romney’s record is anti-gun. That would cost him a lot of Republican votes if it was well known.
Perry is a shooter but he’s also an idiot.
Ron Paul wants to enforce the Constitution. Second Amendment and all.
Paul has my vote.
Posted by: oonogil7 | January 8, 2012, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
Romney didn’t take a drubbing from other conservative candidates because, though they have to put on a show so that gullible voters will be fooled into thinking voters have a voice in this election, the other (pseudo)candidates know they’ll have to back Romney.
He’s the GOP’s chosen one and none of the other boys have a chance, no matter who voters would rather choose. So give it up and put those Romney signs on your lawns.
Posted by: Cassandra | January 8, 2012, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
We must listen to these candidates none of them are saying anything that would get my vote for anything, they are to busy shooting each other down instead of running a campaign if that is what it takes to run than there are more unquailified people in this world that can do the job. We should not be so gullable because Romney is not someone we want in the White house, listen to him he is about to destroy this country thinking he can do a better job than what is being done now if it is up to him lets just throw our seniors to the dogs and everybody else ( average middle class and poor have not a chance. Unless someone else steps up we better leave well enough alone. This country is going to hell in a had basket as it is. We dont need a push.
Posted by: Neal | January 9, 2012, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm