The CBS/NJ GOP Debate - Coverage & Analysis

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The big players of tonight.

As the first debate not on cable TV, and the only debate to focus solely on international relations  (IR) this debate really tested all of the candidates. IR is definitely the hardest topic to fit into campaign buzz words - this subject required deliberate thinking from all candidates but also inspired many candidates to take a stand and stick with their values on important topics like torture, China, Iran, Pakistan and foreign aid to Israel.

It seems that Twitter has a daily limit for the number of Tweets you can post so I will just write my short post-debate analysis here.

Cain - He was at the top of the CBS poll this week. Cain remains on top in the general race as well. He was very even-keeled and presidential. He gave some smart answers to some tough questions and kept a strong conservative line. I had hoped he'd be stronger on China but otherwise good job. I hope he will continue his powerful rise

Romney - I'd say Romney tied tonight. He remained strong on China and was very presidential. Cain needs to seal the deal when it comes to overtaking Romney. Right now Romney is really good when it comes to finally pointing out that we are already in a trade war with China. (This is unrelated, but he has been looking a little under-the-weather lately - or is he just showing his age? Poor Romney).

Newt - He got some buzz in the polls this week. But tonight I don't think he really distinguished himself or showed himself to be any better than Cain or Romney. He remained the same, which will probably sink his poll numbers. Still he kept his usual roles as the cheerleader and  remained the "adult" in the room. He's very knowledgeable on foreign affairs and he remained strong on foreign aid and enhanced interrogation measures.

Santorum - Of the smaller players, Santorum was the strongest, agreeing with Cain and Newt. He remained strong on enhanced interrogation measures and offered detailed and intelligent responses on Iran and Pakistan.

Bachmann - She also offered very even-handed responses and a few hidden gems but overall she has been over-shadowed by Cain and Perry. It's almost been a little unfair. The moderators absolutely ran over her. She is the new Santorum.

Huntsman & Ron Paul offered moderate and almost liberal views on foreign policy. Their prospects do not look great in the race. However, Ron Paul's usual supporters were very vocal.

Perry - Whether Perry can recover is still in question. He did make a few jokes in light of his past gaffe in the CNBC debate which was nice. I don't think he will recover but he did offer some strong conservative view points on foreign aid and the role of China that I thought were worth hearing.

Check out the Twitter updates below:


SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Euro crisis and contagion mentioned #CBSNJdebate Huntsman goes back to Pakistan
30 minutes ago Favorite Reply Delete

ggreenwald Glenn Greenwald
The supreme summary of this GOP debate, excluding Ron Paul * Jon Huntsman: is.gd/a7p2bO
31 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt: we don't have a reliable intelligence network. #CBSNJdebate scary
31 minutes ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Bachmann: China doesn't have food stamps and China is growing.
32 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Santorum can't answer the question on what to do about a lost nuke in Pakistan #CBSNJdebate
31 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Pakistan moving nuclear weapons unguarded in trucks #CBSNJdebate
32 minutes ago

AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Every time Newt says "deep" "fundamental" or "understanding," drink.
37 minutes ago
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TheDemocrats The Democrats
FACT: Romney has flip-flop-flipped on the U.S. military being in Pakistan. #CBSNJDebate
34 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Romney: Pakistan close to being a failed state. Don't send in troops, work w. allies, send drones #CBSNJdebate
33 minutes ago

AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Cain feigning competence. Perry feigning "strength." Newt feigning interest.
35 minutes ago
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AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Bachmann: We should abandon LBJ's great society and be more like China. // I think she just won the CPUSA nomination
36 minutes ago
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CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Gingrich is talking in some beautiful circles...
36 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Cain didn't get to speak enough tonight. He deserves more time. He is the true underdog and deserving candidate #CBSNJdebate
35 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Bachmann: look to China. they save for retirement. We've created a LBJ welfare state. correct. crowd applauds #CBSNJdebate
36 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
@
@dandrezner @davidfrum mentioned in the 30 min overtime by Huntsman
37 minutes ago

ggreenwald Glenn Greenwald
Ron Paul to the GOP: So to sum up: you people don't trust the govt to run health care, but want the President to kill whomever he wants
38 minutes ago
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JohnJHarwood John Harwood
Huntsman bids for economic conservatives' support by unequivocally embracing Ryan budget
38 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry 1st conservative to say this is war, libs just don't understand war isn't pretty. He is 4 w/e saves American lives #CBSNJdebate
37 minutes ago

AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Paul remark goes at heart of contradiction of modern conservatism: Government is only infallible when it kills people.
41 minutes ago
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TheDemocrats The Democrats
FACT: Romney's budget would adopt deep cuts to Pell Grants. j.mp/sxpsuU #CBSNJDebate
39 minutes ago
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CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Romney: I would get rid of the National Endowment for the Arts
40 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Huntsman tries to argue that debt is the real foreign policy problem. Right to a point. puts out a new plan #CBSNJdebate
39 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
@
@CharlesMBlow try here cbsnews.com/2718-250_162-1…
40 minutes ago

AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Romney is talking about medicare during the GOP foreign policy debate.
40 minutes ago
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ggreenwald Glenn Greenwald
Michele Bachman the latest GOP candidate tonight to join @ThinkProgress in declaring Obama's Awlaki assassination a grand & noble success
42 minutes ago
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benpolitico Ben Smith
Outrage RT @felixreimer: Feed working just fine for me in Canada. Make of that what you want.
42 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Ron Paul sticks to his guns on al-Awlaki being a citizen but he is a traitor. this changes things #CBSNJdebate
41 minutes ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
National Journal livestream working. I'm back BA-BAY...
42 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
People won't let Bachmann speak but she's right al-Awlaki that inspired terror and deserved to be eliminated. #CBSNJdebate
42 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
crowd applauds of Ron Paul but Ron Paul isn't going to be the nominee #CBSNJdebate
44 minutes ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
CBS for the livestream not working well #uh
45 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
@
@fivethirtyeight I'm watching it cbsnews.com/2718-250_162-1…
45 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Ron Paul is going to disagree w. Cain + Santorum as liberal of course on interventions, Gitmo etc #CBSNJdebate
45 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Santorum: using civilian courts is the worst idea. I agree. There are outside of Geneva, they don't play by the rules #CBSNJdebate
46 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Cain would keep Gitmo open, for enhanced interrogation. A true conservative. Santorum agrees. Cain deserves the nomination #CBSNJdebate
47 minutes ago

thecaucus NYTimes The Caucus
Perry: Even Israel Starts from Zero on Foreign Aid nyti.ms/tZrjE9
50 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Ron Paul is against overthrowing dictatorships #CBSNJdebate
50 minutes ago

AshleyRParker Ashley Parker
Cain seems remarkably more tentative in this #CBSNJDebate, where he’s yet to mention 9-9-9.
52 minutes ago
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AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Cain: Obama goofed by abandoning our buddy Mubarak.
52 minutes ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
the stream is breaking up #CBSNJdebate
51 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
moderators try to trip the only women up on foreign policy. also Cain, the only black man is being lumped with her. #CBSNJdebate
52 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
we're now in overtime #CBSNJdebate
55 minutes ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Perry starting the that stammering again. The man only has 30 good minutes in him. We just have to accept that ...
58 minutes ago
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rickklein Rick Klein
Rick Perry says even Israel starts at zero when it comes to foreign aid. This answer will be misconstrued in an ad near you. #CBSNJDebate
59 minutes ago
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AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Perry: Every country would start at zero, including Israel.
1 hour ago
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JohnKingCNN John King
Romney: china echoes clinton "butchers in beijing' circa '92. Or obama close gitmo '08. Being prez often v diff than running. #cbsnjdebate
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry: Israel is our great ally but every one will start at 0. some in the crowd applaud to everyone making their case #CBSNJdebate
59 minutes ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry: our time in the sunshine is not over. Communist China will end up on the ash heap of history. Best comment so far #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
the young people & bloggers of China are not going to save the world and democratize China Huntsman. this isn't the Arab spring #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Romney is right. Huntsman is wrong. We're already in a trade war w. China. China is running over us and killing U.S. jobs #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Romney: bring an action against China through the WTO. stop the hacking of computers, stealing patents, etc. #CBSNJdebate yep
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Romney on 21st cold war: China wants access to our markets, so they have to play by the rules #CBSNJdebate amen
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt: deal with it as an act of war and kill people trying to kill you. Romney says well-said as crowd applauds #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt: he has been found guilty. he is an enemy combatant. you can't go to court. Preach it Newt. #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Moderator outlaws booing. Why? #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Romney: America is a an exceptional nation not just another nation. Go Romney!! Cain step up #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
yes. Romney stands firm on killing al-Awlaki while Ron Paul liberals boo. at the end of his comment people applaud
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Bachmann never gets to respond :( #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
waterboarding divides the Republicans #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Cain: I agree that waterboarding was an "enhanced interrogation technique" and I would support it...
1 hour ago
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ggreenwald Glenn Greenwald
BREAKING: Michele Bachman - The ACLU is running the CIA!!!!
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Ron Paul takes the liberal stance, says waterboarding is torture and illegal and immoral. fine #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Bachmann agrees on waterboarding. says ACLU is running this country. I agree #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Cain: waterboarding is an enhanced interrogation technique. Stands firm as a conservative and audience applauds #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Cain doesn't agree w. torture but will trust the judgement w. military leaders. good answer. don't fall for the liberal traps #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Perry gets off a joke about his brain freeze during the last debate. Crowd applauds.
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry tries to sound like he knows a lot about foreign policy as a governor of Texas #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

jeffzeleny Jeff Zeleny
Again tonight, Newt agrees with GOP rivals. Can he distinguish himself by just being Newt? Or will he have to draw distinctions directly?
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry's jokes may help him here. #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Santorum: Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. also use covert activity. good idea. Santorum seem very competent in this area #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Republican candidates are not going to be cowed by the successes that Mr. Obama has had on the foreign policy front, nyti.ms/rQOwkU
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Cain remains on top #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
the Reagan strategy worked then but would it work now Newt? #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt won't go after anyone. He's the great cheerleader but not a great leader I think #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Romney Deal, Company Showed Profits and Then Layoffs: nyti.ms/v1t0g5 leave Romney. alone. he looks so handsome & competent here
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Don't know if I agree with Santorum on Pakistan. let's see #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

KrystalBall1 Krystal Ball
I can't believe they are spending so much time talking about foreign aid which makes up 1% of our budget. #CBSNJDebate
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Santorum: Pakistan must be a friend of the U.S. woah. #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt: Arab Spring = Anti-Christian spring. Possibly #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt: Pakistan his Osama for six years #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt: let's start every year with $0 for foreign aid each year. I agree #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Bachmann: table being set for nuclear war on Israel. Obama more willing to stand with #OWS. audience claps #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
The look on Romney's face while he was listening to Perry speak was PRICELESS
1 hour ago
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AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Someone should ask if Israel is included in Perry's total overhaul of all U.S. foreign aid.
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Bachmann: disagrees with pulling all foreign aid but cut ties with nuclear-armed Pakistan #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

BreakingNews Breaking News
Occupy Salt Lake protesters refuse to evacuate Pioneer Park, officials block nearby area - KSL bit.ly/rPl0yC
1 hour ago
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CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Everyone's commenting on what Newt has said. You can tell that they believe that he's the leader on this subject...
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
South Carolina Debate Live Blog: nyti.ms/rQOwkU @nytimes isn't updating
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry: foreign budget aid should start at $0. Amen #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Cain: we need a better regional strategy #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Cain & Newt: a lot ins't clear here #CBSNJdebate . I'm watching Backstage Live on CBSNews.com - Join me! soc.li/qLFlIvO
1 hour ago

dandrezner Daniel Drezner
Mitt Romney has a fantastic ability to sound tough and absolute in his first sentence and then insert wiggle room in his second #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt: the sanctuary is Pakistan. Thank you someone said it #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

benpolitico Ben Smith
What are the odds Ahmadinejad doesn't try to play a major role in the '12 election?
1 hour ago
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CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Huntsman: Bring the troops home from Afghanistan, well most of them anyway...
1 hour ago
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AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Romney: I wouldn't negotiate with the Taliban. #AfghanistanForever
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
#CBSNJdebate Romney: we don't negotiate w. terrorists. Go Romney.
1 hour ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Hunstman is going to have to calm down with these Skittle-colored ties. Who's dressing this man?
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Huntsman: victory has been achieved in Afghanistan. Focus on education, the economy and East Asia. Don't know how much I agree #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Bachmann very informed on Afghanistan #CBSNJdebate against total troop withdraw
1 hour ago

THEHermanCain Herman Cain
Looking forward to tonight's #CBSNJDebate. Please keep me in your prayers. This is why I do what I do. pic.twitter.com/RRY8wihG
3 hours ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Santorum mentions explosion in Iran today #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Santorum: victory is Taliban is a neutered force. Fights to answer the Iran question
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry floundering #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Romney said he'd aid "insurgents" in Iran. Does he know something the rest of us don't?
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry: centralize the Iranian bank? #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Perry begins by trying to answer the last question #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Ron Paul: it's not worthwhile to go to war #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Newt: break Iran's regime Reagan vs. Soviets style. #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Romney: "If we re-elect Barack Obama, Iran will have a nuclear weapon."
1 hour ago
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CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Romney on preventing Iran from obtaining nukes: "Of course you take military action."
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Republicans united against the current administration. No infighting yet. #CBSNJdebate
1 hour ago

MittRomney Mitt Romney
Overheard conversation at G-20 another sign of Obama's low regard for Israel and its leader...I will stand by our allies, not tear them down
9 Nov
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Rodney_CBSNJ Rodney Hawkins
Ron Paul gets the first cheer... and it sounded like the loudest #cbsnjdebate
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Romney fights with the moderator and wins. lol #scdebate
1 hour ago

CharlesMBlow Charles M. Blow
Somebody put some makeup on Romney tonight. Last debate he was looking sick and haggard.
1 hour ago
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SoraRyu Sora Ryu
Cain: regime change and energy independence need to counter-act Iran #scdebate
1 hour ago

SoraRyu Sora Ryu
SC debate starts now.
1 hour ago

AdamSerwer AdamSerwer
Lotsa cheers for Ron Paul. This is gonna be fun.
1 hour ago

- Ryu