Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

The first Republican presidential debate saw 10 contenders for the 2008 nomination gathered at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. On hand Thursday night were: (from left) Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain. The debate was sponsored by MSNBC and Politico.com, employing a mixture of questions from two moderators - Chris Matthews of MSNBC and John Harris of Politico.com - and questions over the Internet from viewers.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

The 10 candidates for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination line up on stage before their first debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

More National/World

• Congressman is indicted
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Tribune reporter Michael Gisick graded the candidates' performance at the first Republican presidential debate, held Thursday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California.

Gisick's opening statement: The Republican base reportedly is unhappy with its current cast of candidates. Many conservatives fear their real ideological allies can't win a general election, and the GOP candidates who might win seem much too moderate.

In other words, they're like the Democrats, in reverse.

If none of these guys work out, three more possible candidates are waiting in the wings: former Tennessee senator and "Law and Order" star Fred Thompson, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani

The rap going in: Leading in most polls, but his stances on social issues are far from the GOP base. Will opponents bring up the time he wore a dress?

What he liked to talk about: Reducing crime in New York City, taking the offense against Islamic terrorism.

Best invocation of Ronald Reagan: Says reducing crime in New York relied on Reagan-like sense of optimism.

Grade: B-minus

Gisick's take: Giuliani was hardly a disaster, but he struggled on social issues. Says he "hates" abortion and a repeal of Roe v. Wade would be "OK," but still supports a woman's right to choose.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona

Going in: Former front-runner now struggling against sense of imminent campaign doom. Can he drum up some energy?

Talked about: "Specter and threat" of radical Islam and pork-barrel spending.

Best invocation of Reagan: Would cut spending, like Reagan.

Grade: B

Gisick's take: He was more like the combative, combustible McCain of old. Says he'd chase bin Laden "to the gates of hell." But McCain, 70, looked too old to make it.

Ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney

Going in: Romney ran hard to the middle in liberal Massachusetts. That's providing some embarrassing sound bites as he runs hard to the right now.

Talked about: Family, optimism.

Best invocation of Reagan: Would base foreign policy on "Reagan's philosophy of strength."

Grade: B-plus.

Gisick's take: The most fluid debater and the funniest. Looked presidential, whatever that means. But afterward, it was sort of hard to remember anything he said.

Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas

Going in: As with most of the second-tier group, Brownback is looking to establish himself as a champion of the conservative base. He's got the credentials.

Talked about: Life, faith.

Best invocation of Reagan: Could support an abortion-rights Republican because, like Reagan, he believes someone who agrees with you most of the time isn't your enemy.

Grade: B

Gisick's take: Seemed more at home on social-conservative issues than any of the others. Says outlawing abortion would be "glorious."

Ex-Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee

Going in: Like Bill Richardson, he'll try to argue that his executive experience sets him apart from the front-runners. Like Bill Richardson, he's way behind in the polls.

Talked about: Life, faith.

Best invocation of Reagan: None noted.

Grade: B-minus

Gisick's take: Like Richardson, but with less hair.

Ex-Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson

Going in: Has solid r‚sum‚ and policy credentials. Trying to rebound from recent comments that making money is part of the "Jewish tradition."

Talked about: Being governor of Wisconsin, a blue state where he vetoed "1,900 things."

Best invocation of Reagan: Says he can build national unity, like Reagan.

Grade: B

Gisick's take: Seemed the most focused on pragmatic policies and resorted the least to talking points. Look for him to be a front-runner when it comes to picking a vice president.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado

Going in: Tancredo hopes firebrand stance against illegal immigration will get him some traction.

Talked about: Immigration, life.

Best invocation of Reagan: Says GOP doesn't need to nominate a centrist; can nominate a conservative, like Reagan.

Grade: C

Gisick's take: Struggled with foreign policy, and had an odd kind of eloquence, like a Victorian-era museum curator - who is really opposed to illegal immigration.

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California

Going in: The uber-hawk will likely be the unpopular Bush administration's strongest supporter in the debate. Will he be its only supporter?

Talked about: The best defense is a good offense.

Best invocation of Reagan: Would defeat terrorism like Reagan defeated communism.

Grade: C-plus

Gisick's take: The best thing about the federal government: "Precision munitions." Now, there's a real hawk.

Ex-Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore

Going in: Has said he represents the "Republican wing of the Republican Party." Will he and Howard Dean square off in a future "Not-going-to-get-elected" debate?

Talked about: Being a conservative governor.

Best invocation of Reagan: Says he has the combination of optimism and strength that Reagan used to defeat Soviets.

Grade: B-minus

Gisick's take: Came off as likable, if not exactly presidential. Did much less hemming and hawing about his abortion-rights stance than Giuliani.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas

Going in: Nicknamed "Dr. No" for his frequent nay votes on the House floor, Paul is the black sheep of this field. He voted against the USA Patriot Act and the Iraq war.

Talked about: Small government, opposition to the war.

Best invocation of Reagan: None noted. Did invoke Robert Taft.

Grade: C-plus

Gisick's take: Opposing the war may not be a big niche in this field, but he's got it to himself for now.