CNN Debate Highlights and the State of the Race

The CNN debate co-hosted by the Republican Party of Florida, and the Hispanic Leadership Network was entertaining, to say the least.  While I have a clear bias, I do believe that Congressman Ron Paul stole the show in the midst of the bickering hot heads that were content pummeling each other repeatedly.

A new trend that I’ve noticed is that the other candidates have taken to deferring to Dr. Paul on matters of the economy.  “I agree with Dr. Paul” was heard many times throughout this debate, and Mitt Romney clearly was trying not to fire up a foreign policy war with Paul.  On a number of occasions, Romney would make statements such as “Not that I want to engage in nation building” while gesturing to Paul for approval.

This successful turn of the tide is sure to resonate.  Gone are the days when Republicans can simply dismiss Ron Paul as a kindly but kooky old doctor from Texas.  They’re taking him seriously because we’re taking him seriously, and we need for this trend to continue.

James Rosen wrote yesterday in his Reporter’s Notebook on Foxnews.com, “…it has become ever clearer that the 76-year-old Texan, now serving in his 12th term in the U.S. House, has had a palpable impact on the race.”

In a Quinnipiac University poll released this morning, Ron Paul is coming in third, just ahead of Rick Santorum.  Paul is not campaigning in the state of Florida, so these results are not surprising.  In fact, to be outshining a fellow candidate is actually pretty impressive given Paul’s lack of monetary endeavors in the Florida primary.

Congressman Paul is focusing on a strategy that takes him to many states that are overlooked by candidates.  He’s campaigning in Maine and is already running ads in caucus states like Nevada and Minnesota.  With a jump on the others who are focusing their intentions on the winner take all state of Florida, Paul is sure to collect some much needed buzz, not to mention delegates.

In case you missed it or you just want to watch it again, here are the Ron Paul highlights from the CNN Florida debate: