Hi folks. It's time for the final debate of 2011 and the pre-Iowa campaign.
Surely some are booing, while others are cheering. This form of "reality TV," though, has been decisive so far in shaping voters' perceptions of the would-be Republican challengers to President Obama
This debate is from the Sioux City Convention Center in Sioux City, Iowa. It is being hosted by the Fox News Channel and the Iowa Republican Party. The questioners will be Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly, Neil Cavuto, and Chris Wallace.
All seven GOP contenders will be there tonight: Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry,
Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, and Jon Huntsman.
If you have questions or comments, log on here to ask and add them. If you want to tweet, use the hashtag #gopdebate. I will try to keep track of both and add them into this feed. I'm getting a hand from boston.com Editor Ron Agrella.
We also have on-scene coverage posted to boston.com and BostonGlobe.com from Globe staffers Matt Viser and Tracy Jan.
In addition, I will sneak in some tweets. My handle is @globglen, if you want to follow me.
Taran has a point... this is moving time for the candidates wanting to pass Newt Gingrich - or Ron Paul - in Iowa.
So for those of you who have been following these live blogs, tonight's will be a little different. Less blow-by-blow, more conversation and analysis. So, let's act like we're sitting in the @globeglen living room, throwing back the milk and discussing everything we see.
So, this is a change: Candidates are already on stage, ready to get going. But this is not a change: Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are in the center, all to make sparring easier. Bret Baier of Fox calls this the time for the candidates' closing argument
First question to Newt Gingrich: Can you put to rest you are most electable candidate against President Obama? Gingrich responds with Merry Christmas to crowd. No "happy holidays" from him...
Gingrich replies that in debates with President Obama, "he won't have a leg to stand on."
It's natural for Gingrich to be early focus: He is frontrunner in three of four early states. Will be interesting to see how the other candidates - not the moderators - attack him.
Gingrich also tries to dissipate flip-flops, saying, "I change when the conditions change."
Second question, in same vein, to Ron Paul...
Paul, the Texas congressman, says his libertarian philosophy is appealing because it focuses on everyday interests: cutting budget, etc.
Rick Santorum: You can trust him as a conserative. "I've been there and I've done it." Says Gingrich had a "conservative revolution" against him when he led House.
Fox is allowing the candidates to make their closing argument at the outset, allowing them to explain who they are and why they are best equipped to represent conservative ideals.
Now, to Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor is very polished in debates this second time around. He says he could be best to challenge President Obama because "I'll have credibility on the economy when he doesn't."
Boston.com welcomes your questions and comments. Please click the "Make A Comment" link to post to this live blog. All comments are moderated.
Michele Bachmann says people have elected her because she is an "action person" and a person of her word. Says she spent "five years as a real person" and five years taking on Barack Obama.
In all these debates, these early questions are softballs. Then moderators turn to questions that turn candidates on one another.
Rick Perry: He dismisses questions debates have made him look bad; says he will "get there early" for debates with President Obama. Compares himself to unlikely hero of Tim Tebow. "I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses," he says.
Jon Huntsman has a tendency to tell a joke that falls flat before delivering a serious debate answer. He made one, and then moved onto a recitation of his argument that he is best person to restore trust in government. "We're too good as people to be in the hole we're in, and we deserve better," he says.
Romney: "This is the question of the presidency: What is leadership?" He cites his work with the Democratic Massachusetts Legislature. "We need to have a leader in the White House who knows how to lead," he says.
Gingrich: Labels Obama a "Saul Alinsky
radical" who campaigns constantly.
Watching the #GOPdebate. Ron Paul is talking. All I hear is "Get off my lawn!!!"by PeteThePlanner via twitter 12/16/2011 2:07:56 AM
Romney name drops several companies: Staples, Bright Horizons Children's Center, Jet Blueby Matt Viser via twitter 12/16/2011 2:13:39 AM
#iowadebate #hannity #tcot #gop @talkmaster Perry is pretty animated now. but he still looks like he came from a funeral parlorby dickmorristweet via twitter 12/16/2011 2:14:21 AM
Huntsman just blew off any last-minute invite from Trump - pretty weak audience response #iowadebateby tracee via twitter 12/16/2011 2:16:23 AM
Good point from Mitt Romney; he had to lead as a Governor in a state with 85% Democrats #gopdebate #iowadebateby RantBully via twitter edited by Teresa Hanafin, Boston.com 12/16/2011 2:19:28 AM
Romney talking about trying to gain respect from Dems isn't going to win over conservatives. #iowadebateby NASAguy via twitter 12/16/2011 2:19:32 AM