Video: Luntz’s focus group says Romney won big
posted at 4:21 pm on December 12, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Almost unanimously. Fred had the highlights and no one laid a glove on Huck, so what gives? It may be that the negative press lately for Huck is starting to penetrate and translating into Mitt looking more substantive by comparison. Plus, he laid off the quips, which neutralized his natural advantage at these things; combine that with the fact that people were looking more closely at his answers in light of his new status — especially the one about health care, which sounded suspiciously universal-friendly — and you may have a sense of why the word “Huckabomb” is uttered here.
Geraghty calls it the worst debate ever. Let the focus group’s opinion of the moderator be your guide as to why.
Update (Bryan): I have to agree with Geraghty, this was the worst debate yet. Fred scored points with me and a whole lot of others by refusing to stick with its format. If he treats Washington’s playas with similar disdain he will achieve greatness as president.
I think overall Romney won this one, though, by taking what the debate format gave him. He didn’t have to go on the attack against Huckabee, and just delivered crisp answer after crisp answer to every issue. It helped him that Rudy and McCain all but failed to show up and Huckabee left his trademark sense of humor at home, but Romney could still have fumbled somewhere. He didn’t. This debate played up finesse, unflappability and issue command by the bullet point, which are Romney’s strengths. If you want a national CEO, Romney’s your candidate. This debate should help him.
Huckabee may start to slide after this one. Imho he came across less like a candidate and more like a second-rate preacher at invitation time. Too emotional. Too personal. A little too, I don’t know, treacly I guess. His tone just didn’t work for me. I want a national CEO with some of the slaptastic irascibility of Fred. A president who “feels my pain?” Do Not Want.
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CNN’s focus group of Iowans said that Rudy won.
Complete7 on December 12, 2007 at 4:27 PM
He spent his mini-clip praising the Iowa voters and the heartland. I thought that was genius. I’d guess Mitt helped himself quite a bit today.
This debate was atrocious.
Spirit of 1776 on December 12, 2007 at 4:27 PM
Geez, take the personality of a high school wallflower and mix in internalized hostility to Republicans and you get the moderator for the Des Moines Register debate.
BacaDog on December 12, 2007 at 4:28 PM
I really enjoyed how Fox showed audience reaction live during the debate. I thought that was very interesting to watch.
freakagriep on December 12, 2007 at 4:31 PM
God bless Iowans for dressing up and looking decent when they show up on national television.
I don’t know whether Robin Givhan would approve of their style, but I appreciate it.
see-dubya on December 12, 2007 at 4:33 PM
Someone time the big 4s nightly news broadcasts. Time given to candidate answers. My money is they give Huck a 3 to 1 advantage in airtime. Fred gets an ‘also there’ mention. Keyes gets headlined.
Limerick on December 12, 2007 at 4:35 PM
I’d feel a lot better about the future of this party if Iowa becomes a Romney-Fred battle.
Dudley Smith on December 12, 2007 at 4:39 PM
And did you notice that they were articulate. Didn’t look poorly educated and easily led to me.
Longhorn Six on December 12, 2007 at 4:41 PM
We can hope, but I’m not placing any bets just yet. IMO, he’s come across as a preacher and very personal since he began.
amerpundit on December 12, 2007 at 4:43 PM
What else did you expect!?
If if I didn’t know that you live in CA, you’re left coast bias is very telling.
Sheez!
Mcguyver on December 12, 2007 at 4:50 PM
I must have been watching a different debate.
I don’t think anyone “won big”.
Finally got to hear Fred! He did well.
Mitt…..eh.
Huck……eh.
Rudy……eh.
Hunter….who???
Paul……hahahahahahahahahhaa!!!
Keyes….I love listening to him speak but……..eh
McCain……zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The moderator was special. Reminded me of the Soup Nazi.
Talon on December 12, 2007 at 4:53 PM
Would you point that out to Jailbones next time he comes by?:)
I grew up in the Marshalltown area. Iowans are fine people.
a capella on December 12, 2007 at 4:56 PM
Agreed. Thanks. AP.
Griz on December 12, 2007 at 4:58 PM
I totally agree. I’m originally from Kansas, feel right at home in Waukon, Maquokets, Zwingle… all the metro areas;-)
Longhorn Six on December 12, 2007 at 5:02 PM
Winners of the Debate:
Mitt
Fred
Rudy
Losers of the Debate:
Alan Keyes
The Godawful Moderator Lady
The Des Moines Register, for employing the Moderator Lady as Editor
The problem with any group grope debate format like this is that who gets asked what question when plays a key role in whether that guy made an “impact”. If Mitt and Huck get all the juicy questions or more air time, and Rudy or Fred are ignored by the Moderator, that influences opinions but are not their fault.
Sometimes these guys are like running backs inthe NFL who need to carry the ball 5 or 6 times to get into the rhythm and who really shine after they’ve worked up a sweat. When you are asked a question every 14 minutes or so and get 60 seconds and then wait another 12 minutes to talk, how can you possibly have “IMPACT”?
That said:
MITT: He does worst when he is repeating the laundry list of campaign promises in his opening and closing statements. Wooden. He does MUCH better when actually addressing issues and goals. Then again, he is no more wooden than Hillary ALWAYS is.
Fred: Fred is a likeable folksy guy with some good insight, but who simply looks and sounds like a REALLY OLD GUY. Fred just doesnt have the energy, the vitality or the OOMPH to lead this nation for at least 4 years.
BUT: Fred did have the best lines of the day. In his bit about: when the enemies of the nation are across the table from us and are trying to negotiate, who do you want to represent US on the other side? Fred had energy, if only fleetingly, and he really convinced me that FRED was the guy. Then he needed to sip some Geritol and went back to the folksy jokes and I knew it was rocking-chair time for Fred.
HUCK: Too many cutesy phrases — the Red Sea, Mass Instruction, Communicator in Chief… I just gag at that crapola. His video said it all: he keeps relying on FAITH and his cheap attacks on other candidates religion to sustain his all but empty campaign. Yecch. Thankfully he did nothing to help himself today.
RUDY: Rudy had a troublesome answer on NAFTA and on global warming. Had great answers on national security, cutting taxes, lowering size of govt. Typical Rudy. Too bad he was all but ignored by Mistress Torquemada the Moderator. Rudy doesnt poll well in Iowa so maybe the Bitch.. I mean the Moderator felt she could ignore him. How else to explain Alan Keyes?
McCain: Seemed listless today. Occasional glimpses of that elusive “gravitas” but he STILL doesnt get that reaching across the aisle to embrace Ted Kennedy’s amnesty bill is a TURN OFF and NOT a turn on to Republican voters. How can he be so dense???
Duncan Hunter: Fine guy, with some good ideas on trade and immigration who has no chance for the nom, but who I hope is in a prominent Cabinet position in the new GOP admin.
Tom Tancredo: Passion in search of clear expression. Tanc has one or two marvelous insights, but he cant even express them clearly when given the chance.
Ron Paul: Bring all our troops home from overseas, eliminate the federal government, and stop collecting taxes. Hey, its Colonial America circa 1760!!! Enjoy !!!
Alan Keyes: Parachutes in, gets pissed, gives website, skates out. Hope he gets the Home Game as a parting gift.
Moderator: Is due back in the Leather Dominatrix Whipping House this evening. Fred’s slapdown of her “raise your hands” had even me applauding. Too bad she whipped him back by not calling on him afterward. “thank you ma’am may I have another!!”
Conclusion: Mitt regains momentum from Huck; Fred shows a pulse but nothing more; McCain remains on life support; Rudy heads back to NH to focus on his better chances there.
Always Right on December 12, 2007 at 5:04 PM
Fred Thompson won that debate hands down.
msipes on December 12, 2007 at 5:07 PM
Agreed. He was the only leader on the stage.
aero on December 12, 2007 at 5:11 PM
You got it Bryan.
peski on December 12, 2007 at 5:11 PM
I think Huckabee laid low in today’s debate because he believed something similar to what Mort Kondracke said–that all Huck had to do was not take any hits, just hold his own, and he’d “win.” But the focus group put the lie to that theory. Huck didn’t really screw up, but he didn’t stand out, either. Not good enough for the Chosen One. “Huckabomb” indeed.
aero on December 12, 2007 at 5:14 PM
The two best performances came from:
1) Romney
2) Thompson
All other candidates (with the exception of Giuliani due to his national numbers) should just pack it up. Anyone who will be voting for a lower-tier candidate might want to start using their head and vote for someone who stands a chance at winning.
davenp35 on December 12, 2007 at 5:14 PM
What were those pretty-colored things around some of the mens’ necks? We don’t wear those out here!
see-dubya on December 12, 2007 at 5:16 PM
I’m a bit disturbed that the focus group, who did not seem like idiots, thought so strongly that Mitt won, and their main reason for that was that he “looked the most presidential” or that he rattled through his canned talking points the most smoothly.
I was also irritated that they gave him such props for his blatant grab for Reagan’s mantle. Mitt is not the author of the three-legged stool analogy. So he blatantly lifted it and got kudos for “bringing the party together.” All he did was explain the three branches of conservatism!
Whatever. Mitt does okay. If he’s the candidate, I suppose I can live with it. But I don’t think he can win the general, so I hope he’s not our candidate.
aero on December 12, 2007 at 5:20 PM
Huckster, take your “Those who oppose the Immigration bill are un-Christian, un-American and anti-life” any your “Don’t Mormons believe that Jesus and the Devil are bothers” and your furniture stealing and “gift” grabbing and criminal releasing ways along with your sorry a$$ back to your and Jimmy Carter’s Hope, Arkansas.
Don’t let the Church door hit you on the way out.
MB4 on December 12, 2007 at 5:22 PM
I stood up and cheered when Fred said the biggest obstacle to good education is the NEA. I thought Fred did great. Romney still seems scripted and stiff to me. Huckabee was wishy-washy. Hunter says the right things, but needs to be more forceful. I don’t know what to say about McCain. Keyes was too much. He’s right about the need to bring morals back into vogue, but I don’t want a preacher-type in the White House. As far as Huckabee and his music and art fetish, most schools offer those programs and it is not the President’s responsibility. The National Endowment for the Arts is a program that could be cut. Huck is a nanny-stater through and through. Tancredo said some good things. Ron Paul just wants to hide from the world. He promotes the back-to-the-womb craving everyone has once in awhile, but is not reality-based. (The craving, or Paul). Rudy blew it on numerous things. For one, he said the economy is not a national security issue. Keyes agreed with him.
For the most part, all candidates are close on the issues and most all had something interesting to say. There was a little obvious pandering by Huck and Mitt. I would say there was less a winner than a few who should by conservative standards be ruled out. Anyone who buys into Global Warming alarmism is gone in my book. I’ve been living a pretty green life all my life and feel it’s a good way to live. What was it Fred said? Leave the world better than you found it?
I will disagree a bit with those who seemed to want to be very negative about the lady in charge. There isn’t a lot of time available and by being tough right off the bat, it allowed her to cut those who talked to long without appearing to be singling anyone out.
Someone said they thought Keyes was trying to say he wasn’t getting enough time because he’s black. Does anyone else think that was his point? The color of his skin was the last thing on my mind, so it didn’t even occur to me. But trying to follow him wasn’t easy as he really did his best not to answer the questions for the most part.
Connie on December 12, 2007 at 5:39 PM
I’m just thankful the Huck balloon may be beginning to leak a bit. I can live with any of the top three, but right now, it would be nice to eliminate Huck since he is a for sure landslide loser in the general.
a capella on December 12, 2007 at 5:40 PM
too long, not to long…that was a first time mistake for me…geesh!
Connie on December 12, 2007 at 5:42 PM
Clarification
.
top three = Mitt, Rudy, Fred.
a capella on December 12, 2007 at 5:48 PM
With Fred doing well, he now has to go ALL IN in Iowa.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on December 12, 2007 at 5:57 PM
As I understand it, that’s his plan.
I wouldn’t call myself a Fredhead yet–mainly because I’m not certain he’ll even still be on the ballot when my state’s (Texas) primary rolls around–but I’m definitely rooting for him. If he can turn things around in some of these early states, there will really be a reason to cheer.
Go Fred!
aero on December 12, 2007 at 6:03 PM
Yeah, thanks to all the negative posts at HOT AIR!!
/Channeling Huckaboosters
John from WuzzaDem on December 12, 2007 at 6:14 PM
Those are the talking points for those who don’t like Mitt, like the lady who said he was a salesman. However, listen to the focus group more closely because that is not really what was said by those who liked him. Several people specifically said he was the candidate who was knowlegeable and could back up his positions more then the others. Saying someone seems Presidential because of that is not the superficial view you make it out to be.
Resolute on December 12, 2007 at 6:35 PM
what a waste of data storage… (AND MY 1:21 sec)
I only got to the guy with the “mod glasses”.
amend2 on December 12, 2007 at 6:54 PM
We want a President who, by the very definition of the office he holds, to take command.
Nobody took command of that debate but Fred. How can anyone call Mitt the winner? When Fred told the moderator he’d answer the question if she gave him 60 seconds, Mitt started to haggle and asked for 30. That’s not leading, that’s following.
Fred took control and Mitt followed.
unamused on December 12, 2007 at 6:55 PM
PS McGuyver–
On the off chance you were actually offended by what I said (couldn’t really tell), what I meant was how nice it was to see people with the good sense to dress up for something important. I’m sick of seeing people everywhere in America dressing like bums or thugs. It was intended as a compliment to Iowa, not a slam.
And I’m certainly not a native Left Coaster.
see-dubya on December 12, 2007 at 7:06 PM
For those of you who don’t like Romney, go read the National Review endorsment and then come back and comment. It was spot on!
davenp35 on December 12, 2007 at 7:10 PM
But you are very nice, and the West Coast is better for having you here.
Entelechy on December 12, 2007 at 7:42 PM
see-dub,
Right.
Fine.
You belong to the vague club just like me.
Whether the left coast is better because of you is hard to tell… however you are still biased.
But at least, you belong to a cool…. bloggers club.
Mcguyver on December 12, 2007 at 9:53 PM
Mitt won? Hmmm, about that UNBIASED focus group http://www.blogsforfredthompson.com/mitt-planting-independent-focus-groupers
One of the “independent” focus group members who was interviewed by Fox News was Nathan Burd. If you watched the focus group, you should recognize him when you see this picture of him standing right next to Romney.
http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/nburd.php
Gatordoug on December 12, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Hmmmm…
One plant, a set up does make.
Right.
Mcguyver on December 13, 2007 at 12:03 AM
Burd was probably the one who yelled “He looks tired” at the very very end. Burd lied to get in.
Connie on December 13, 2007 at 1:02 AM
DAMN STRAIGHT!
Fred Thompson took control and showed why is the best leader and the only true conservative.
There isn’t an opinion here. Mitt Romney is no way won this debate.
Fred Thompson showed them who’s boss.
msipes on December 13, 2007 at 2:01 AM
All Fred Thompson did was protest about the stupidity of the dog and pony show.
A real leader rolls with the punches instead of whining loudly. Maybe if Fred had this kind of leadership outside of quick debate quips he’d actually have a viable campaign. As it stands though, Fred stands with Huckabee as “candidate who has the best laugh lines at debate, but is unimpressive anywhere else for the most part.”
Freddo had his huge surge at his grand entrance and he squandered it.
BKennedy on December 13, 2007 at 7:35 AM