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Thoughts on Gingrich-Huntsman Debate

By Aaron Goldstein on 12.2.11 @ 4:16PM

Joe Lawler is right when he says that a one on one debate between Jon Huntsman and Newt Gingrich in New Hampshire could be of enormous benefit to Huntsman especially given that he has put all his stakes in the Granite State.

On the other hand, in most of the GOP debates in which he has participated, Huntsman has been snarky and insufferably annoying. I mean if that's the impression Huntsman can convey in five minutes then imagine what could happen if he has the floor for an hour.

View all comments (8) | Leave a comment

Rogue Elephant| 12.2.11 @ 5:24PM

Huntsman? How ridiculous.

Occam's Tool| 12.3.11 @ 5:22PM

Yes, but gracious, Rogue. Graciousness is a quality too often lacking. May be he's sizing him up as a VEEP candidate.

Occam's Tool| 12.3.11 @ 1:36AM

Gingrich wants a discussion of ideas. Useful.

Clint| 12.3.11 @ 3:06AM

" Gingrich praised Freddie Mac model in 2007

Newt Gingrich in 2007 extolled the virtues of Freddie Mac, saying he would be "very cautious" about changing the way the mortgage-finance company's public-private business plan operated.

In an interview placed on Freddie Mac's website, the Republican presidential candidate said the government-sponsored enterprise, or GSE, could serve as a guide for rebuilding the hurricane-ravaged Gulf of Mexico, improving health care and funding space exploration. For decades, Freddie Mac collected profits while benefiting from an implicit taxpayer guarantee of its debt.

"I'm convinced that if NASA were a GSE, we probably would be on Mars today," Gingrich said in the April 24, 2007, Web post.

"While we need to improve the regulation of the GSEs, I would be very cautious about fundamentally changing their role or the model itself," he said."

The Intermediary| 12.3.11 @ 4:04AM

Agree, he doesn't debate well in a group of 7-9 candidates. But, i'm guessing he had more than 30-second chances to speak when he was running for Governor of Utah. He'll probably do better in this environment.

Dai Alanye| 12.3.11 @ 9:12AM

At least they are equals in arrogance.

On the serious side, you never know with Newt, but his strategy might be to raise Huntsman in order to diminish Romney, whose only immediate hope appears to be a major win in New Hampshire. It is at least possible, however, that Newt might stick his foot in it during a debate with a poised intellectual equal. He'd better watch both his ego and his wilder ideas.

If nothing else, the personalities on display will make for high interest and/or amusement.

Diogenes| 12.3.11 @ 10:00AM

Actually I believe his strategy is to get as many debates as possible one-on-one with lesser candidates so that when it's down to two, Romney will have a harder time ducking him. As far as "sticking his foot in it during a debate with a poised intellectual equal", Ryan's still not running. Looking at the media tactics the last couple months and cycles shows why nobody with any sense wanted to run.