In wake of GOP debate, Florida polls show Romney picking up steam
The latest polls show former Gov. Mitt Romney with a widening lead in the Florida Republican primary, just a day after a GOP debate where Romney took the gloves off and went after his opponents, especially former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Florida voters will cast their ballots in the GOP primary on Tuesday.
Thursday night, they had their last chance to listen to the four candidates in another presidential debate. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came out prepared, responding to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's attacks on Romney's wealth and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's criticism of Romneycare, comparing it to President Barack Obama's health plan. Gingrich, on the other hand, seemed to get sidetracked on his pledge to build a permanent base on the moon by the end of his second term — should he be elected and re-elected.
Meanwhile, Ron Paul and Santorum both tried to find a little bit of room while their two, more popular fellow candidates hogged most of the spotlight.
In the latest polls out Friday morning, but mostly completed before the debate, Romney has built himseld back into a comfortable lead in Florida. According to an index of polls from RealClearPolitics.com, Romney has a 7.2 point advantage over Gingrich, with Santorum and Paul battling for third place.
The two newest polls, one from Sunshine State News and one from Quinnipiac University, both have Romney enjoying a 9-point lead. Both of those polls interviewed voters Tuesday through Thursday.
Farai Chideya, a journalist and blogger, said Romney finally decided to go after Gingrich in a serious way in Thursday night's debate. Whereas he'd previously tried to portray himself as above the fray, on Thursday he went after Gingrich directly and "put him on notice," Chideya said.
"I think Mitt Romney is taking advantage of some second thoughts about Newt Gingrich and whether or not he's truthful and stable enough to be president," Chideya said.
For example, some questions were brought up before the debate Thursday about Gingrich's comment that he'd offered ABC sources that could rebut his ex-wife's explosive claims about Gingrich wanting an open marriage.
Chideya said for whatever reason, Gingrich wasn't on his game Thursday night, while Santorum absolutely was. But so was Romney.
"Mitt Romney did extremely well. He managed to look very tough, but not un-presidential," Chideya said.
Ron Christie, a Republican political strategist, agreed that Romney was strong, but heaped praise on Santorum as well. Santorum, he said, is still trying to be the anti-Romney candidate, rather than Gingrich.
"He was very sharp last night, very pointed in his criticism of all three of his rivals on the stage, though most of his ammunition was being fired and Gov. Romney and Newt Gingrich," Christie said. "I think Santorum, although he's pulling around 10 percent in Florida, I think he'll get a slight bump in his popularity as a result of this."
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He made Gingrich seem out of touch, completely.
Too many skeletons in his closet. I don't believe anything he says. He has a long history of being a liar.
He and the liberal media have all tried desperately to find 'something' in Romney;s past but all have failed miserably. Mitt R. is a good man and much more capable of helping our country than Gingrich.
Our country is in a mess! Congress is woefully incapable of making decisions. Obama is way in over his head and the government just keeps getting bigger. Cut all their freebies and send them home when they are NOT working. They don't deserve free pensions for life or free health care better than we have. Let them pay for their own retirement and insurance, as we do.
Gingrich is an ex house speaker with a personal marriage baggage heavier than the Kardashians. On top of that he's been dishonorably discharged from his position in the house.
There is only one descent candidate in this pack and that is Ron Paul, (and he is way too old).
The GOP does not have a great presidential nomination this year. Sorry!
Mitt Romney could have logically been on Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential (VP) Short list in 2008 presidential run if Mitt Romney did not flip-flop from the views he held in MA.Mitt Romney is a chameleon and lacks a moral compass. Anything goes to make a dollar is NOT Capitalism. Under your strict definition drug dealers are Capitalists like Mitt Romney.The drug dealer or corporate raider are both wrong. Newt Gingrich has a right and obligation to attack these forms of Capitalism. The business venture was three separate parameters is it moral, ethical, or legal. The drug dealer is immoral and illegal. Mitt Romney is immoral and unethical. Mitt Romney is not and NEVER was in business to create jobs. Mitt Romney will never be president ........................ Many on the CHRISTIAN right have become Pro-life Democrats because of anything goes and band wagoner Republicans, Sir.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w aeD1HXjaY
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