presidential debate news stories on Newser

GOP Has No Good Choices

Kevin Spak — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:52:33 CST

Last night's debate threw the GOP race into focus for Gail Collins, and it predictably begins with her favorite prop, Seamus Romney: "Take your pick, Republicans. On one hand, the guy who once drove to Canada with the family dog strapped to the roof of the car," and on the...

Tonight's Debate Could Change the Race

Kevin Spak — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:58:15 CST

It's been a while, but America's favorite political game show is back. Yes, the Republican presidential candidates will square off in Mesa tonight for their first debate in nearly a month. Here are the storylines in play: The final showdown —The stakes are "about as high as they could be,...

Debate Frenzy Ending? CNN Cancels One in March

John Johnson — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:22:44 CST

Newt Gingrich would probably love to fill an hour or more of debate time all by his lonesome, but CNN would rather he not. The network canceled a debate scheduled for March 1 after Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum bowed out, reports the National Journal . The trio cited...

Romney Packed Crowd With Backers: Gingrich Reps

Matt Cantor — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:00:05 CST

Mitt Romney enjoyed a favorable audience last night ... because his campaign loaded the hall with supporters, Newt Gingrich aides tell the Huffington Post . "They definitely packed the room," said a top adviser. Another staffer called the situation "obvious," noting, "I was getting calls and emails from all over saying this....

We Need More Debates— and Loud Ones

John Johnson — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:35:51 CST

The Republicans debate again tonight , and there's plenty of carping about how there's too many of these things. Not from David Weigel at Slate . He wants more, more, more. If they weren't debating, the candidates would be in choreographed campaign mode, which reveals little. "The ideal campaign moment comes when...

Stakes Colossal for Newt Tonight

Kevin Spak — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:41:08 CST

The GOP field will have its last debate before the Florida primary tonight, and it just might be a doozy. Here's why: Newt Gingrich's polling advantage may have vanished. The latest CNN poll has Mitt Romney at 36% and Gingrich at 34%, a statistical tie, and a far cry from...

Let Bill Clinton Run Against Gingrich

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:33:02 CST

If the GOP can revive Newt Gingrich from his political grave, Democrats are allowed to play retro too—and bring back Bill Clinton, David Maraniss writes in the Washington Post . True, "the law prohibits the Comeback Kid from coming back to serve a third term, and Obama might not go...

Why Newt's Marriages Are Fair Game

Matt Cantor — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:11:05 CST

Newt Gingrich may have been "frankly astounded" at John King's "trash" question last night about his ex-wife—but that's "pretty rich" coming from him, notes Ariel Levy in the New Yorker . Indeed, "I am frankly astounded that Gingrich hasn’t been asked more about his various affairs and divorces," Levy notes....

Jon Stewart: Real Star of SC Debate Was...

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:04:06 CST

Sure, the pundits may have deemed Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich the winners of Monday's South Carolina debate, but Jon Stewart thinks the audience was the "real star." After all, we're talking about a group of people who booed when Ron Paul mentioned the Golden Rule, but cheered loudly when...