American Political Idol Episode3- Florida Debate Highlights

Stuart Carlson

If you are looking for something new after tonight's Florida debate, then there isn't much. But one thing is for sure, they are all nuts.  The focus seemed to be pretty much on Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Mitt made several attempts to discredit Newt by questioning his role while working with Fannie  Mae and Freddie Mac again. Newt has been accused of leaving his post as Speaker of the House and working as a lobbyist instead. Also, Newt was investigated by the ethics committee for tax evasion, but these charges were dropped later. But Romney felt that this was a sore issue, one that he felt discredits Newt as a leader. Newt refuted and took stabs back at Mitt Romney by stating he and his campaign staff were bad historians. 

Newt did not want to waste time on Romney's attacks and wanted everyone to refer to Newt.org after the debate, so he could address four incorrect statements from Romney's attacks. Newt also stated that it was better for him to step down in 1998, because of all the hoopla that was surrounding him. But Ron Paul thought this was poppy cock and hog wash. He backed Romney's claim that Newt had in fact, abandoned his party, at the time. Rick Santorum attempted to seperate himself from Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney tonight, by pleading to Floridians that he was the true Conservative out of the bunch. But I don't think Floridians were listening. All eyes were on the man with the most money and the controversial career politician with grand ideas.

It appears that Newt is giving Romney a run for his money, literally. But Newt doesn't have the campaign funding that Romney has. And that's a problem. If Newt wants to stay in, he has to garner more funding and support. Romney may sink in the South if Newt gains more momentum. And Romney comes off far too moderate for those extreme right wingers that dominate the southern states. Plus he's a Mormon. And that's doesn't ring well with extreme right voters.

Rick Santorum doesn't have enough history to beat the top two. And that could be a good thing for some. But not for Conservative voters, it appears.

Ron Paul is the long rogue candidate. He just doesn't appeal to voters in the South and he may have a tough time rising in the polls there. I mean afterall, he has a great deal of liberal supporters! I don't know why. He' a train wreck if you ask me. 

And that's all for Episode Three of American Political Idol.

Source NBC