[Hoot Gibson]

Tonight's debate was a very bad one for Marco Rubio, IMO. Chris Christie really had him rattled early by pointing out how Rubio memorizes 25 second speeches and just look for a chance to deliver them. Rubio proceeded to repeat the same mini-speech about Obama almost verbatim at least three times during the debate. Rubio did much better in the second half, but the damage had been done.

I thought Kasich and Christie had the best debate tonight. I also thought Cruz did very well, as did Jeb Bush.

I thought Trump had a terrible debate, but the people on TV and Mark Levin thought Trump had a good debate. The audience booed Trump on at least two occasions and they did not boo any of the other candidates. I guess we will find out how he did on Tuesday. I still think Trump will top the voting but I think he hurt himself tonight on the eminent domain question and with his sore loser, cheap shot at Cruz before his closing statement.

I would not be surprised to see Kasich finish second and Rubio to slip to fourth or fifth. I guess Orin Hatch and the rest of the GOPe need to ask Christie to pull his punches against Rubio.