The national press corps rolled into Des Moines on Monday to cover the third in the current series of GOP debates. They were not permitted in the hall, they watched the debate from two rooms equipped with televisions. In reality, they could have written their stories about the debate from Bethesda, Maryland and not spent a day-and-a-half on the road. So, of course, could I.
The press room had cookies, no sandwiches, barely enough chairs, not enough telephones and almost no power outlets. That led the press to act, some of them, like seventh-graders getting on a school bus.
"That's my seat."
"How is it your seat?"
"It's my seats because I ALWAYS sit there. Ask anyone."
"I did."
"Who did you ask"
"I asked myself and I said this isn't your seat."
Pre-debate the Forbes, Bush, and McCain spinners were in the press room explaining how, no matter what happened, their boss' position would be improved.
Post-debate the Forbes, Bush, and McCain spinners were in the press room explaining how, no matter what anyone thought happened, their boss' position HAD been improved.
Once the debate started there were no sounds but the three television sets at the front of the room and the tapping of keys on laptop computers.
The worst kept secret of the night was that John McCain would say something horrible about ethanol subsidies - a favorite subject of Iowa corn farmers. He did. The tapping increased.
When George W responded to Gary Bauer the tapping almost made the televisions inaudible.
When Hatch said to Forbes that he "wouldn't be able to lift" Forbes' wallet the tapping stopped and was replace by laughter.
Here's the Official Mullings Breakdown:
Bush - Won the debate. Period. His body language was orders of magnitude better than the first debate. Mike Deaver taught us all that the pictures are what count. But, in addition, his answers rang true.
McCain - Did what his campaign said he would do: Played to voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina. Did it work? We'll have to hear from New Hampshire voters over the next couple of days. The danger to McCain is if this stopped his momentum, even briefly.
Forbes - Didn't do himself any harm, but might not have done himself enough good. His message is strongly honed to Iowa voters and he says it well, but there was no breakthrough in this debate.
Bauer - Went after Forbes more than he went after Bush which indicates his campaign believes he needs to get close to Forbes in the January 24th caucuses to stay in this thing.
Keyes - To my ears his rhetoric sounded strained, not soaring. Unlike the first two debates there will be few, I think, who will say he won.
Hatch - Has become the Henny Youngman of these debates. His campaign is not going anywhere but he is a polished presenter of his views.
