Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Brain Trust - Warren Smith

Warren Smith, Associate Editor of World Magazine, joined the Brain Trust to discuss the presidential race. Here are the "CliffsNotes" of his segment.

In the recent GOP debates, Gingrich seems to like this format of debating one-on-one.  
There are two things that play in Gingrich's favor here.  First, he is very good in this format.   
Last night they were discussing foreign policy and he came out very well, even though Huntsman is considered an expert on foreign policy.   
Secondly, he wants to eventually debate Obama one-on-one. He also knows if it comes down to him and Romney for the GOP they will be paired together in this style of debate.  
Why are these other front runners afraid of him?
I just think they realize that he is very good in this format.  He comes across very well.   
In this format he had the chance to give more extended answers.  In a larger debate setting you tend to get media sound-bytes when you have 6 or 7 candidates.
It appears Romney is nervous about this surge by Gingrich.
I think you're right.  Gingrich is finally polling at 30%, which has proven to be a difficult number for any of the candidates to sustain thus far in the campaign.   
In Iowa it will be less about who wins, but rather who loses in that primary.  I think after Iowa and New Hampshire, we will see a couple of candidates get out of the race.   
Once we see the support of those candidates re-shuffle we will see what it looks like. This has been the fall-out of the Herman Cain situation; we have seen a lot of Cain's support go over to Gingrich
What do you make of this speech Obama recently made in Kansas?
Some have said it was the start of his reelection campaign.  In reality he is merely trying to shift the focus off of his failed presidency. 
He will attempt to make this a race about two competing visions for America.

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