Scorecard

Newt Gingrich Wins Big

There’s no question he’s the frontrunner now.

If there was any doubt Newt Gingrich was a real frontrunner, you can forget about it after last night's GOP debate, says Salon's Steve Kornacki. "Gingrich’s poise was in sharp contrast to the botched attacks, missed opportunities, and general awkwardness that marred Cain’s and Perry’s performances earlier this fall and helped end their surges. And his response to Romney’s early attacks was the rule for the night." Conservative blogger and Romney booster Jennifer Rubin disagrees, saying Newt didn't do so great. "If his twofold goal was to appear less risky as a potential nominee and show himself to be the only anti-Romney conservative, he failed."