How Rudy Won the Second Debate

He came across as forceful and elegantly deflected the attacks from the other Republicas

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/ AP Photo

Republican presidential hopefuls are seen during the Republican debate at University of South Carolina's Koger Center for the Arts.

There have now been two Republican presidential debates, both useful. The first, on May 3 at the Reagan Library, clarified the big problems the Republicans will have in 2008: they have no idea how to deal with the incredibly unpopular presidency of George W. Bush, and their constant summoning of a mythic Reaganite past just makes them seem ... old. The second, on May 15 in South Carolina, clarified the field--not just which candidates should be taken seriously but also how the serious candidates are likely to relate to one another. I thought Mitt Romney won the first debate because he...

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