If it was obvious within seconds of Thursday night's debate that Newt Gingrich was going to hit another rhetorical home run-only long as it took for him to glare icily and say "No, but I will" when John King asked if he wanted to comment about his ex-wife's unsavory accusations-it was equally clear that Mitt Romney had struck out again when he tried to make a joke out of moderator King's question about making his tax returns public. Would he follow in his father's presidential-candidate footsteps and release a dozen years' worth of returns? "Maybe," the frontrunner said, affecting the sort of goofy look that flailing stand-up comics resort to when their material is hopelessly lame. (And then, like Romney, they get well-deserved catcalls and boos instead of laughs.) At least until tomorrow night's South Carolina results come in, the CNN debate was the thrills-and-chills capper to a week that breathed-no, heaved and spat-life back into the Republican contest. Huntsman out. Perry out. Palin and Cain making comebacks. Gingrich getting a standing O for bullhorning (not dog-whistling) his rabble-rousing "food-stamp president" smear of Obama on Monday. Romney inexplicably unable, after seven years of running for president, to conjure a coherent answer about his taxes-except to reveal that his rate is rock-bottom. ABC News turning Gingrich's second marriage into a prime-time soap opera. Gingrich soaring to the top of the polls. Whatever happens on Saturday, we now know two things for sure: The 2012 Republicans can produce a first-rate farce even without Cain and Perry. And the show ain't over.
So They Say
"I call them dumb arses."
-Sarah Palin, swatting the "liberal media" on behalf of Newt Gingrich.
Daily Meme: Swinging with Newt
- Gingrich deftly swatted away his second wife's accusations at the debate…
- …but he still has some answering to do…
- …which the full interview makes clear.
- His daughters say the whole thing is "simply untrue."
- Did his ex actually do him a favor?
What We're Writing
- In South Carolina, Jamelle Bouie visits with Ron Paul's supporters.
- Abby Rapoport writes about what the Supreme Court's Texas redistricting ruling didn't decide.
What We're Reading
- Romney tamps down expectations; "I expect that Newt will win some primaries and contests, and I expect I will as well."
- Why did Santorum go after Gingrich at the debate, when a Newt victory in South Carolina keeps the race going?
- "Lighten up, America": Steven Colbert and Herman Cain rally supporters in South Carolina.
- No, this is serious! MSNBC's Chuck Todd blasts Colbert for "making a mockery out of the system."
- Tea Party Patriots are getting behind Gingrich.
- President Obama sings Al Green: "Let's Stay Together," people!
Poll of the Day
Gallup's editor-in-chief says the national numbers show Romney's support is "collapsing."
