Republican debate third-segment reflections

A hypothetical question about Iran become bellicose. Giuliani has a solid answer--this is his strong suit, a muscular foreign posture. Romney looks too smooth here perhaps. The Huckster's answer is revealing. As with any candidate, his strength is also his weakness. His appeal to character and heart pushes patented Huckabee positive-think generalities. This becomes a weakness, however, if the question is asked by Republican primary voters, "Do you know enough to be president?" Or put another way, "Can you stand up to Hillary in a debate." Is Huckabee a general-election winner, does he have the substance and knowledge of the nitty-gritty to at least seem presidential? This is the strong point of Giuliani and McCain, but the Huckster's weakness. It was also Candidate W. Bush's weakness. But Bush could project a toughness that Huckabee lacks.

Bob Cusack of The Hill said Romney was on the defensive all night, and that's clear. Both he and David Drucker picked Giuliani to win this debate and that's probably right too.