The Reagan Library Debate
So far, so good for McCain. Mitt Romney is on the defensive while Mike Huckabee is preventing Romney from going mano a mano with McCain with a typically witty performance.
McCain is successfully depicting himself as a Reagan disciple which is blunting Romney's attacks. If the debate carries on like this, Team McCain will be ecstatic.
Romney then messes up a question on immigration, the issue where he had the best chance of drawing a contrast with McCain. Meanwhile, Huckabee keeps up the quips. There are few politicians who are as quick on their feet as Huckabee is.
McCain and Romney then get into it over whether Romney ever supported a timetable for withdrawal in Iraq. Neither candidate managed to win the exchange
The moderators are trying to turn this into a McCain Romney exchange and the two engage in another ding-dong about the meaning of leadership which again neither candidate manages to win. But McCain, as the man in possession, won't mind that too much.
The final question is on who Reagan would endorse. Romney ticks all the conservative check boxes while Huckabee gives the best answer.
Overall, the night was a draw which suits McCain. McCain went into the debate as the overwhelming frontrunner and leaves as that. With an endorsement from Arnold coming in the morning, it is hard to see how Romney can stop McCain.