What Went Down At The ABC Republican Debate

I think the only reason I don’t totally agree with you, Micah, is the inertia that has characterized this race. Christie’s been saying this for months, and so has Rubio (though not quite as … verbatim). I don’t see Christie coming from behind at this stage – too many liabilities, too little support.

Am I overreacting in thinking that was a really bad exchange for Rubio?

I think Chris Christie listened to some Springsteen before this debate tonight — he is pumped up! He opened a screed against Rubio, bringing up the Florida Senator’s much-talked-about supposed absenteeism in the Senate: ”That’s not leadership, that’s truancy,” Christie said. Rubio fired back, talking about New Jersey’s downgraded credit rating under Christie, and then Christie comes back with: “I want the people at home to think about this. This is what Washington, D.C., does—the drive-by shot at the beginning with incorrect and incomplete information and then the memorized 25-second speech that is exactly what his advisers gave him.” Wooh!