All the recent republican hell-fire was mostly a distant memory last night as the candidates took a on an Iowa audience packed with angelic Christians.The tone was much more relaxed and compliments and agreements on policy and opinion were handed out among the participants, only a very thin layer of animosity could be detected in the gymnasium like venue.
A great performance was had by all the candidates who seemed to relish the format (free speak followed by set questions) and this setting, surrounded by a religious audience.
All did well with their initial speech and later questions which included queries on the areas of abortion, energy and the defense of marriage etc.
The entire night was a needed breath of fresh air after the recent blood-letting among the GOP contenders during recent debates and signaled if not a return to normalcy, a return to courtesy. All got a chance to speak their minds without being interrupted and everyone had a chance to tell their personal story of how they came to politics and to this stage on this night. From Cain’s deep southern heritage to Bachmann’s, who did very well; tireless fight against abortion (a repeated theme through the night by all candidates), but arguably the last candidate Rick Santorum took the evening with his sensitive telling of a baby he and his wife lost. The moment was delicate and the story was heart-felt as Santorum (sometimes tearing up), spoke at length of his faith and the choice of abortion he and his wife turned down after learning the child they were expecting had a dangerous congenital defect.
All candidates seem to have gained their stride and the usual common sense approach was again dealt out by Newt Gingrich who won uproars of applause from the crowd as he added candor, reason and humor in a way only Newt can. We got the usual from Mitt (who wasn’t there and no one noticed) but the surprises were just that, surprises!
Ron Paul scored big and seemed to come out of his shell and touch the crowd with his wisdom as well. But still the story of a child not forgotten and who taught so many so much in the short time it had on earth gave the crowd of sympathetic Christians a wonderful insight into the candidates heart and soul making the benediction that followed,( even though slightly political and slanted against the current administration) even more powerful.
The debate was informative, inspiring, thought provoking, a bit exciting and interesting with moments of delightful humor, Translation; (nothing like the last debate).
Final score; all that showed up scored well with Santorum taking home the win and Newt coming in a razor second with Bachmann, Paul a distant next.
It was not a real debate it was better than that, “it was a conversation between human beings”.