Florida Republican Debate: Romney, Santorum Score Over Gingrich; Ron Paul Stands out

Thursday's Republican debate, which would be the last before Florida goes to polls on Jan. 31, failed to produce any spark.

The debate was much anticipated given the tough fight between the leading candidates, but it turned out comparatively dull, except for the usual sparring at the beginning.

Who wins

Mitt Romney: Romney has learned a few lessons from his recent downfalls. He appeared to have mastered debating skills at last and has used it wisely in the CNN-Florida debate.

The South Carolina debates and Newt Gingrich's recent surge have taught the candidates that aggressiveness brings in the attention and votes.

Romney again was at his aggressive best at the debate. He attacked Gingrich and when Gingrich attacked, he fought back vehemently. He justified his stance on illegal immigration when he was attacked by Gingrich, who accused Romney's hardcore stance on illegal migrants as unrealistic.

He defended his Massachusetts Healthcare law and ridiculed Gingrich's moon mission. He was at his diplomatic best when he answered the moderator's question on Reagan's legacy.

To moderator Wolf Blitzer's question Whether Romney thinks he can claim the Ronald Reagan mantle better than Gingrich, he answered no. He said that at that era he was looking at politics from afar.

He immediately reminded the audience of his vast experience in business and as governor of a state, to drive in the point that he is competent and has required skills.

The audience booed Romney when he was caught lying. When Gingrich accused one of the negative ads aired by a pro- Romney PAC accusing him of calling Spanish the language of the ghetto, Romney initially said he was not aware of the ad and said it was not his.

But later in the debate CNN announced that they verified the ad and found it was indeed that of Romney. The ad ended with Romney saying, I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this ad. And he got booed by the audience.

Rick Santorum: Santorum continued with his aggressive style and went after both Romney and Gingrich and attacked President Obama too.

For Santorum, who is in tight competition with Rep. Ron Paul for the third place, the debate was an important opportunity to impress the still undecided Florida voters.

He did try his best to portray himself as the best conservative alternative to Romney and Gingrich. He successfully attacked Romney on his healthcare law and said it was no better than the Obama Care.

He said that Romney could not defend his law as Obama healthcare bill was modeled on the similar legislation by Romney in his state. He gave one of his best debate performances Thursday night.

Ron Paul: Congressman Paul stood out in the debate for his smart answers as well as for the self introduction he gave. When the moderator asked the candidates to introduce themselves at the beginning of the debate, Romney said that he was there with his wife and his oldest son. Gingrich said he was pleased to be in Jacksonville, which will be the site of the next nuclear aircraft battle group. And Santorum said he was thrilled to be in Florida as his 93-year-old mother lives there.

Paul summed up what he had to say in the entire debate in his introduction. He said that he is the champion of a sound monetary system and a foreign policy based on strength, which rejects nation-building and America as the policeman of the world.

Ron Paul is not campaigning in Florida as it doesn't fit into his campaign's strategy. Paul has not held any major campaign events in the state, other than the two debates in which he participated. Despite this, he is in dead heat with Santorum at third place.

Throughout the debate, he defended his policies in his usual straightforward approach. When the moderator questioned his fitness to be the president since he is 76, Paul replied that he was perfectly fit to discharge his duties. In fact, he challenged his much younger rival candidates for a long distance bike ride in Texas heat and, at one time, he reminded the moderator about the U.S. anti-age discrimination laws.

Newt Gingrich: Expectations were high of Gingrich, considering his last debate performance in South Carolina. But he failed miserably in firing up the debate or in blocking Romney's chances in the state. Gingrich did fire some salvos at Romney, but he looked more restrained.

He was not initially willing to talk on Romney's tax issue, and said it was better to talk about issues relating to the governance of America. He found himself with no choice but to deviate from his own suggestion when an aggressive Romney took on him over the Freddie Mac issue.

Compared to his stellar performance in South Carolina debate and his explosion against the news media, which apparently made him the winner there, he was dull and less aggressive here.