(Image: The New York Times)
BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN
You're watching multisource politics video news analysis from Newsy.
Eight candidates with gloves off.
But two -- really stole the show. (VIDEO FROM FOX NEWS)
PAWLENTY: “Look she’s done wonderful things, absolutely wonderful things. But it’s an undisputable fact that in Congress, her record of results and accomplishments is nonexistent.”
BACHMANN: “When you were governor, you implemented cap and trade in our state, and you praised the unconstitutional individual mandate.”
No Minnesota Nice for Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty -- who traded jabs extensively throughout the debate. ABC’s Amy Walters observed...
“...the sparring between the two Minnesotans was so intense that, at times, it seemed like two-hour exchange was a one-on-one exchange between them.”
But former House Speaker Newt Gingrich didn’t hold back, either -- unleashing on Fox News -- in response to recent campaign hiccups including the mass exodus of some of his staff.
WALLACE: “How do you respond to people who say that your campaign has been a mess so far?”
GINGRICH: “Well first of all Chris, I’d say, I took seriously Brett’s injunction to put aside talking points. And I wish you would put aside gotcha questions.”
So who was the winner? CNN’s Alex Castellanos weighs in.
CASTELLANOS: “In the tough battle between Bachmann and Pawlenty, there’s one clear winner: Mitt Romney. He sidestepped all the punches tonight. He looked very presidential.”
Not so -- says The Daily Beast’s Michael Tomasky -- who says -- the winner -- wasn’t even there.
“It was more like Tee-Ball, where everybody gets a trophy, win or lose. … I guess the winner was Rick Perry.”
Referring to Texas Governor Rick Perry -- who -- Associated Press reports indicated before the debates -- is set to make his candidacy clear in a speech on Saturday. (VIDEO FROM TIME)
In fact moderators asked the candidates to respond to the as-yet-undeclared Perry. Most -- played nice.
PAUL: “He represents the status quo.”
CAIN: “It doesn’t bother us or my campaign. That’s just one more politician, and that makes this business problem-solver stand out that much more.”
Stay with Newsy for all your politics news analysis.
Transcript by Newsy.
