Do you notice how much better the debates seem with only four candidates?
CNN went for substance, particularly in the opening half-hour, focusing on trade deals, legal immigration visas and entitlement reform. It was generally a good debate, but for the three trying to catch Donald Trump, I don’t think they generated the buzz-worthy, “hey, did you see that?’ moment they needed.
Trump clearly wanted to be more “presidential” this week, and generally demonstrated a quieter, “kindler, gentler” tone. He opened and closed with his best argument – no matter what you think of me, you want and need my voters checking the box for Republicans in November. In between, he was his typical train wreck, with some interesting wrinkles. He said that when he said the Chinese crackdown in Tiananmen Square was a show of strength, he didn’t mean it was a good thing. He clearly had no idea about the details of Cuba policy, talking in circles about how he would insist upon a “good deal.” He insisted the violence at his rallies is all spurred by “bad dudes” who come in to cause trouble, and quickly tried to change the subject to saluting the police. He hates Common Core, and spoke about charter schools as if they were some new idea. After a while, you start to ask, “what is the point of asking questions to a pathological liar who doesn’t know any details?”
Did Rubio have a good debate? Yeah, but he’s had good debates most of these nights except New Hampshire, and we see where that’s gotten him. People will remember and quote the “I’m not interested in being politically correct, I’m interested in being correct” line for a long time. Maybe Rubio wins Florida on Tuesday and it’s a new lease on campaign life. If not, this is his authentic, non-insulting self, his closing impression on the national audience.
John Kasich had a genuine good moment, expressing incredulity to Trump’s answer on Tiananmen Square. Beyond that, he seems to be cruising along just perfectly on his selected course to be President of Ohio.
Then there’s Ted Cruz, the man widely believed to be the last, best option for derailing Trump from getting the Republican presidential nomination. The Texas senator had a perfectly fine night, with a terrific moment where he observed voters making pledges to support Donald Trump at his rallies and noting that in America, the candidates should be making pledges to support the voters. Cruz has his head on straight, the right values in his heart, and the man preps like a samurai. But is that going to be enough, one-on-one, against the human hurricane that is Trump?