If you accept the notion that John McCain is the frontrunner for the nomination, then if you are Mitt Romney, you have to be on the offensive. You want John McCain in the hot seat. As we sit here, most of the way through this debate, clearly it has been Romney on the defense. If this doesn’t change, Romney’s ability to try and “win” the debate will be non-existant. McCain isn’t breaking a sweat tonight.… Read More

I’m not sure which is worse… CNN’s repeated cutting off of Ron Paul… Or the fact that Paul doesn’t seem to be capable of sticking up for himself…… Read More

We’ll assume that FR readers who care are watching the debate live, or will catch the video stream at CNN.com. Nick and I are so close…but yet so far. We’re upstairs in the Spin Room, which is just a few hundred feet from the Air Force One hanger where the debate is taking place. So far, 25 minutes into the debate, our point made below that there is no Ronald Reagan in the race is being reinforced. Neither Nick nor myself have been impressed thus far.… Read More

Governor Schwarzenegger just did a brief media availability in the Spin Room. he made some general comments about how the field of candidates is winnowing, and he also lauded the decision to move CA’s Presidential Primary up to February. The Governor said that he will be appearing at an event tomorrow with McCain. When asked by SF Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci if he would be endorsing McCain, the Governor, wearing a big grin, was coy, and said that he had nothing to announce today… He did add that the dynamics of the race have changed, and that he had not wanted to weigh in with both Giuliani and McCain, both of whome had been helpful to him, in the race. T-minus 47 minutes to the debate…… Read More

Nick and I have been “working” the spin room for a while now. The big “to do” was the press conference where Rudy Giuliani threw his support to John McCain. We had virtually front row seats for the action. I’ve done quite a few media interviews, and CRP Chairman Ron Nehring has been doing twice as many… T-minus 71 minutes ’til the debate…… Read More

After helping our friend Hugh Hewitt through security and to the “spin room” Nick and I decided, with a while to go before the debate, to pay our respects to the Gipper.

As I write this, we’re beside his memorial, where President Reagan sleeps forever. On the memorial is a quote from Reagan, that reads: “I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right wull always eventually triumph and there is purpose and worth to each and every life.”

Stationed around the burial site are Cub Scouts (Troop 3732) asking us not to take any photos today.

Reflecting here, it is apparent that there will be no other President who will live up to Ronald Reagan. Nor should anyone try. He was one of a kind…… Read More

Former FR Managing Editor Nicholas Romero and I are heading out soon for Ventura County. First to the Americans for Prosperity Summit where yours truly will be introducing Hugh Hewitt. Then we are on to stop #2. We are credentialed to cover the Presidential Debate later today at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. That said, there is a ton of stuff on our main page. On two closing notes — for those who are trying to follow the Presidential election, I recommend Real Clear Politics as a good site, and finally I want to thank FR Friend Michelle Malkin for the shout out this morning.

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

Nick Romero and I have finally made it to the “spin room” here at the Reagan Library. The security here is pretty hardcore, but somehow Nick and I have our names on the media list as “credentialed journalists” – go figure. We had to park off site, and shuttle over with a bunch of real reporters. Now that we’re here, we’ll go see how many reporters bash on Republicans when they “think” no one is listening.… Read More