GOP DEBATE MY TAKES
1) This was a fine debate. Substantive issues including trade, jobs, Cuba, social security and climate change. This is what all the debates would have looked like minus Donald Trump. It makes you wonder, if he had not entered the race, who would have dominated in substantive debates.
2) It was a very fine night for Marco Rubio and John Kasich. Rubio’s performance may – emphasis may – put his home state of Florida back in play. Trump is leading big in the polls, but Rubio did well before his own home crowd. Kasich deserves extra credit for acknowledging that humans are contributing to climate change, another example of him taking on the powerful Koch brothers. Let me predict it now: Kasich will win Ohio on Tuesday. Urban Meyer doesn’t endorse losers.
3) Donald Trump appeared to be on tranquilizers, he was very reserved obviously looking ahead past the primaries. I’m not sure if you’re a Trump fan you got your money’s worth. He was like an aging WWE star in a really bad match. Ted Cruz is fighting a cold and sniffed his way through the debate. He never made a strong case that he’s the only one that can stand next to Trump.
BONUS 4) Trump was really low energy during the debate. That’s just not his style. If he tries to become just another politician, he’ll lose a lot of the momentum with people who typically don’t vote in primaries.