Des Moines Register
05-17-07
Yepsen: Romney, Paul, Giuliani all 'win' in GOP debate
By DAVID YEPSEN
REGISTER POLITICAL COLUMNIST
It's possible for a political debate to have several winners. Different candidates
need to accomplish different things, and the Republican presidential debate
Tuesday night in South Carolina was one that saw several reach their objectives.
- Mitt Romney. He turned in the best overall performance. He was cool, concise
and showed an executive persona throughout the session.
- Ron Paul. The Texas libertarian congressman has no chance of getting the
GOP nomination but is nevertheless serving his party well by challenging its
current dogma on war and interventionist U.S. foreign policies.
He sometimes sounds like a Democrat with his opposition to the war, but he said
that historically, the GOP has won elections by keeping the country out of
international entanglements and by helping the country get out of wars, not
expanding or starting them.
If the GOP takes another beating in 2008 like it did in 2006, Paul's philosophy
might start to carry more weight and attract more support among party activists
looking for a message that can appeal to general-election voters. There are lots
of Republicans who are uncomfortable with all the party's spending and
internationalism.
- Rudy Giuliani. Hizzoner finally started giving clear answers on abortion
questions but had his strongest moment when he pointedly challenged Paul for
suggesting the United States was somehow to blame for the terrorist attacks of
9/11.
- Mike Huckabee. He easily won the award for the best one-liner of the night
when he said, "We have a Congress that spends money like John Edwards at a
beauty shop."
Other candidates had an average night. John McCain, who had a strong showing
in the first GOP debate, seemed more subdued. Some people like this decaf
McCain, but I prefer the one with a shot of espresso. Since he's one of the frontrunners in this contest, he comes in for more than his share of questions and
scrutiny. That means McCain is forced to play defense more often.
The event was hosted by Fox News and the South Carolina GOP, and it was a
much better debate than the first two, which were sponsored by MSNBC. The
questions from moderators were more succinct, and the candidates were more
cogent in their answers.
Horserace Journalism: Two new Zogby polls taken Monday and Tuesday of likely
Iowa caucus-goers were released Wednesday. The GOP survey shows Mitt
Romney with 19 percent and John McCain and Rudy Giuliani with 18 percent
each. Everybody else is in single digits, and 22 percent are undecided. Margin of
error: 4.6 percentage points.
On the Democratic side, John Edwards is at 26 percent, Hillary Clinton at 24
percent and Barack Obama at 22 percent. Everybody else is in single digits, and
16 percent aren't sure. Margin of error is 4.4 percentage points.
A Plug: The big "Third House Open" charity golf tournament sponsored by
Statehouse lobbyists is scheduled for June 7 at the Briarwood Golf Course in
Ankeny. Shotgun start is at noon, dinner's at 5 p.m. Proceeds from the tourney
go to fund scholarships in the political science department at Iowa State
University.
The event is always a way for the Statehouse political community to ease the
tensions of the recent legislative session, honor deceased lobbyists and raise a
little money to help college students studying politics. To register, contact Mark
Joyce at majoyce5@netzero.net.
Great Mentions and Trial Balloons: Republican insiders say Iowa Falls
businessman Bruce Rastetter, the CEO of Hawkeye Renewables, is being
mentioned as a possible GOP candidate for U.S. senator in 2008 or governor in
2010.
Rastetter made a lot of money in the hog-feeding business before selling out and
getting into renewable fuels. His firm has ethanol plants up and running and will
soon bring more on line.
GOP operatives say Rastetter is personally well-connected and is wealthy
enough to pay for a top-drawer campaign.
While other states have seen such well-to-do business types seek high office, it's
not common in Iowa. At a time when many voters are sick of traditional
politicians, self-made candidates who can provide a lot of their own money in a
race sometimes win. However, the fact he was once in the Big Hog business
could be a problem.
DAVID YEPSEN can be reached at dyepsen@dmreg.com or (515) 284-8545.