Last nights New Hampshire debate double header was just as much as  a boxing match as a presidential debate.  With jabs and crosses coming from different directions (and in different forms) there were some left smiling but with significant bruises.  I have to say, Clinton and Romney looked the most beat up.

Both former front runners are now on the ropes after substantial losses in the first major primary of the season.  Now, after countless hours of work campaigning and speaking (13 debates in a few months) the candidates are tired, weary, and ready for the bell to ring. 

And the competition did not stop to let them breathe.  Romney lost in Iowa because he ran negative campaign ads that turned off voters with a distaste for mud-slinging politics.  McCain and Guiliani seized the opportunity to remind voters of the negativity when the immigration issued came up:

 “It's not amnesty,'' McCain told the multi- millionaire Romney. “And for you to describe it as you do in the attack ads, my friend, you can spend your whole fortune on these attack ads, but it will won't be true.'

' 
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani came out swinging as well with   “Ronald Reagan did amnesty. He actually did amnesty,” reminding everyone of former President Reagan’s 1986 amnesty program. “I think he'd be in one of Mitt's negative commercials,”

My opinion is the Romney need to break out of this big bad wolf persona and let his absolute strength down Washington insider and establisment candidate McCain and let the Mayor and Gov'na duke it out. 

Clinton was no better.  With Obama slumping in his chair in and out of questions, John Edwards eyebrows painted even higher on his forehead, and Richardsons neck actually festering out of his collar, Clinton too was reduced to her staple head bobbing while her eyes sagged low.  Indeed, the toll of the campaign was palpable on the faces of these candidates.  

Clinton like Romney ran attack ads and even took a few agreesive punches at Obama claiming he changed positions so many times "he could have a pretty good debate with himself" 

Obama, not wanting to resort to mud slinging, didnt strike back.

Edwards however took his shots claiming that Clinton was attacking Obama because because she was a sore loser. “"I didn't see this kind of attacks from Senator Clinton when she was ahead. Now that's she's not, we hear them, anytime you speak out for change, this is what happens,” Edwards said. Then, he said Clinton was aligned with the “forces of status quo.”

Clinton hit back by again very weakly with some answer about how she's been creating change for the last 35 years.  Apparently she wasnt aware that being cheated on by your president husband while the world watched and attacked our overseas interests wasnt the kind of change we needed. 

The debate wound down talking about likeability where CLinton admitted that Obama was very likeable and that she too was "not so bad"  and she chuckled.  Obama, barely looking up and forcing politeness quipped, "you're likable enough Hillary." 

HA! 

Beating after beating these former front runners took last night.  This election could have the Guiliani-CLinton American establishment looking at a McCain-Obama election, somethign that we never would have thought a year ago with the Feingold bill and the Amnesty rejection.  This is going to be an amazing election with Results that will end up in non-leftist hijacked text books.

This is owen signing out

Ron Paul the Texas congressman and Reagan accolyte has captivated independent voters across the country.  His limited government conspiracy style campaign against "tyranny" has polarized more traditional voters and similarly presents a proverbial THORN in the side of the American political establishment.

Modern Conservative has received "anonymous but reliable" information that Paul will eventully split off from the Republican ticket and run for the Constitution Party.  The article is here:

   http://modernconservative.com/blog/?id=1285&thickbox=1

However, the American tradition has always cheered third party candidates as election ruiners for major candidates.  As Pauls ideology remains mostly conservative but his voters are socially more liberal spiltting off most likely will propel the Democrat candidate to the Presidency.  Meaning that by continued support of  Ron Paul whose base tends to despise Tax and Spender Establisment Candidate Hillary Clinton may greatly increase her chances of being your next president.