New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Sold his New York City governing record (reducing crime and welfare rolls), and allowed his 9/11 heroics to take a backseat for a change. Survived repeated queries on his pro-choice record and personal stance on abortion, but seemed a little uncertain, at one moment too glib, and surprisingly unprepared to frame the issue on his terms. Also survived Sunni-Shia essay question, but in a halting, deer-in-the-headlights manner, revealing the dreary labor of his debate prep.
— Mark Halperin