Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment was "never speak ill of another Republican.” Not all this year's presidential candidates got the message. Last night's debate featured unusually nasty exchanges between Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty, candidates with a lot at stake in Iowa. All eight contenders practiced attacks on Barack Obama and promised they'd never raise taxes, even if they got 10 times more spending cuts than new revenue. Did consensus front-runner Mitt Romney hold onto his lead? Did newcomer Jon Huntsman make an impression? Were they all overshadowed by the man who wasn't there -- Rick Perry, who will enter the race tomorrow? We hear excerpts and a variety of opinions.
Republicans Go to the Mat in Iowa
Credits
Guests:
- Michael D. Shear - New York Times - @shearm
- Doug Gross - veteran Republican activist
- James C. Moore - former national TV correspondent - @moorethink
- Rich Galen - Mullings.com - @richgalen
- Walter Shapiro - Roll Call / Yale University - @MrWalterShapiro