Who Won, Lost the Debate? We'll Tell You What Others Think, You Tell Us What You Think

Iowa Republicans who watched the GOP debate in Sioux City Thursday told Patch they thought Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney did well, and Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul may have blundered. Patch editors called the debate watchers shortly after the candidate showdown ended to get their take on the FOX News debate.

We want to know what you thought about the debate. Tell us in the comments section below.

The debate included former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman.

Without futher ado, here are reactions from Republicans across Iowa:

Tim Hagle, Iowa City, Associate Professor in Political Science at University of Iowa, caucus watcher.

"For the people supporting any of the candidates they'll probably come away happy, thinking they did well. The question is, did they do well enough to break out? The answer is probably no."

The bottom three of Bachmann, Perry and Santorum did well: "They did on the whole well for themselves, but was it good enough to propel them into the top three? Probably not by itself."

Will there be changes in the top three? Probably.

Dusty Juhl, the Story County GOP publicity chair, of Ames:

Gingrich and Romney were probably the winners of the debate as far as performance. Romney was level throughout, as was Gingrich, but he said Gingrich's answer to Bachmann's Freddy Mac attack might have hurt him.

The Ron Paul supporter said he's watched several debates and knew Gingrich wanted to close some of the courts, but tonight was the first time he heard Gingrich say he would subpoena judges.

Carmine Boal, Ankeny, former Iowa state representative:

"He (Gingrich) is someone who can debate and stand against Barack Obama. He knows the facts, history and is able to go toe-to-toe with Obama. That is where he shines.

"(Santorum) worked so hard doing what traditionally works best in Iowa, but with the debates and social media, it has totally changed what makes a difference in this state. He answers questions well but people want that commanding answer. He doesn't have that."

Kevin McLaughlin, Des Moines, Polk County Republicans chairman:

"They try to push you to the point where you explode or implode, so I thought he (Gingrich) did well, considering. Newt's solutions do make sense - he's studied the history and has the experience to know what solutions work best in certain circumstances."

Attacks made by Michele Bachmann tonight could cost her, McLaughlin said. Ron Paul might also have some ground to gain after appearing "radical" in his responses regarding nuclear weapons in the Middle East.

"You could tell that's not what he has learned to say or been told to say - it was obviously a deep conviction."

Mary Kramer, West Des Moines, former Iowa state senator and U.S. ambassador to Barbados:

“I couldn’t be more pleased. I thought my candidate (Mitt Romney) was presidential and thoughtful, and of course, important to me, he was civil. It’s that steady discipline that I think is so powerful.

“(Santorum) seemed to have a little more difficulty drawing on specific experience or being direct in his answers,” she said.

Jim Sandager, West Des Moines city councilman:

“I’m not ready to go down on paper who I’m supporting. It’s down to five. I can rule out Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman.”

Lane Arthur, West Des Moines, IT executive at Pioneer HiBred International:

“I’m leaning toward Newt or Mitt, but Newt bothers me from a historical perspective. When he was speaker of the House, he didn’t have the operational discipline to run the House. He’s a good idea guy. You can argue Reagan was that way, but he had the people to run the operation.”

Ben Crosby, Ames, Iowa State University rhetoric professor:

The winners were Gingrich, Romney and Perry and the losers were Bachmann with her declaration of self and Paul, with his comments on Iran.

“If you have to remind people that you are serious (as Bachmann did) or imply that you exist, that's revealing in and of itself."

He said Paul's statements on Iran's lack of threat hurt him. 

Andy Christenson, Johnston, Chairman of Johnston 1 (Caucus):

"I thought it was a good debate. It ends that we have a common person to defeat and that's Obama and his philosophy. I feel that I'll be able to support any candidate."

Ryan Smith, 26, Grimes:

"I think things went pretty smoothly. The only really heated part I thought there was, was between Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann about Iran.

"I was happy to hear Newt talk about his time as speaker of the house. It made me feel nostalgic for those times we had a balanced budget and Republicans were kind of having a bit of a revolution and were coming into power and conservative issues were coming up. It made me feel like Newt could offer that again."

Josh Wilson, Cedar Falls, student at the University of Northern Iowa, graduating this week with a job lined up as an aide to Iowa Governor Terry Branstad:

"I thought Rick Perry did a really tremendous job. If he had had the same debate performance he had tonight throughout the race, he’d probably be polling a little better. I really believe he knows what he’s talking about. He doesn’t have the rhetoric some of the other candidates have. I hope a lot of people were watching tonight and just saw a different side of him.

"Michele Bachmann didn’t do herself any favors with her line, 'I am a serious candidate.'

"I was surprised to see Jon Huntsman get so much air time. To be completely honest with you, I’d forgotten he was even running. Overall, they did a very good job giving all the candidates time to speak.

Judd Saul, Cedar Falls, organizer with the Cedar Valley Tea Party:

"Gingrich realy messed up with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac confrontation.  He dances around the real question.

"The only questions that were truly answered from the heart, truthfully, were from Rick Santorum and Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann."

Jim Conklin, Cedar Rapids Tea Party Spokesman and Linn County GOP Chair:

"It appeared that they all attacked him (Newt Gingrich). I didn't mind. That's one of the reasons I am supporting him. I think he can handle it, and I think he did."

Dennis Goldford, Des Moines, political science professor at Drake University:

"Romney's the guy your mother wanted you to marry. He's rich. He's good looking. He's got a great resume, but you don't love him."

Gingrich "took the financial criticism a little harder tonight, but he's a tough nut to crack," said Goldford.

Gingrich was especially effective at dismissing Bachmann's attacks by saying she had her facts wrong, he said.

"There were plenty of red-meat moments, but it there's any place in Iowa that's red-meat Republican, it's Sioux City, Iowa."

Shane Blanchard, Waukee City Councilman and member of the Dallas
County Republicans:

"One thing I found pretty interesting tonight was Rick Perry," said Blanchard, a professed Mitt Romney supporter. "I particularly liked his Tim Tebow reference. I was also a little surprised that Mitt didn't engage Gingrich more. He left that to Michele Bachmann."

The one topic he believes will be talked about?  

"I think Michele Bachmann going after Newt. I think that was unexpected. I look to her to move into third (place).

"I think Romney and Gingrich claimed the top two. The third spot is up between Bachmann and Paul though I think Paul did the worst tonight. When he got irritated and starting raising his voice, he kind of lost it."

Jon McAvoy, retiree and active participant in the Dallas County Republicans:

"I wouldn't say there was a clear winner tonight," said the Perry supporter. "I thought Romney did pretty well. I was disappointed that the questioners didn't go out to the secon tier candidates as much as I thought they would. They focused a lot on Romney and Gingrich. Bachmann got some pretty good face time too."

What really stuck out about the debate?

"The one thing I would say is that I think it exposed Ron Paul for the kook that he is. He lives on another planet. He has a regime of supporters who will support him come hell or high water, but when it comes to foreign policy, he's a complete whacko."

Chad Airhart, Dallas County Recorder

"I'm still in support of Romney. If I tried to separate myself and say, as a political observer, I would say he was the overall winner this evening. A lot of people are saying the same thing tonight."

And what helped push Romney over the top?

"I think the fact that he finally had a chance to talk about the inconsistencies in his record. He never changed his position on what a traditional marriage should be. He's always said that it should be between a man and a woman. He did change his position from pro-choice to pro-life. I think both those things might give people pause."

So, that's what our debate watchers thought. What did you think? Tell us in the comments.

Correction: In an earlier version of this story, a quote was ascribed to the wrong person. Ryan Grimes, not Dennis Goldford, said the following: "I was happy to hear Newt talk about his time as speaker of the house. It made me feel nostalgic for those times we had a balanced budget and Republicans were kind of having a bit of a revolution and were coming into power and conservative issues were coming up. It made me feel like Newt could offer that again."

Patch regrets the error. Updated at 10:40 a.m.