WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: JOHN MCCAIN AT FOX NEWS DEBATE
New Hampshire Voters Tell Fox News: McCain Won Tonight's Debate
McCain Dominated Fox News Focus Group Led By Frank Luntz. LUNTZ: "One individual for the first time exceeded expectations in all the debates that we've been testing for Hannity & Colmes. ... What is it about John McCain?" (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 9/5/07)
NH Voters "Give It To McCain -- He Exceeded Their Expectations" As "The Word 'Leadership' Is Being Repeated." "Yes, Frank Luntz's 29 Republican voters give it to McCain -- he exceeded their expectations. The word 'leadership' is being repeated." (Kate O'Beirne, National Review's "The Corner" Blog, 9/5/07)
Watch New Hampshire Voters Tell Fox News That McCain Won Debate
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· NH Voter: "I think John McCain sounded the most presidential, even the other candidates were quoting John McCain during their responses." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 9/5/07)<!--[endif]-->
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· NH Voter: "I think McCain just has the experience and it came through in his answers." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 9/5/07)<!--[endif]-->
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· NH Voter: "[H]e was very passionate about being a leader. And that's what we need in this country: a leader who's not afraid to do what he says." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 9/5/07)<!--[endif]-->
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· NH Voter: "He exhibits leadership a lot better than other candidates seem to ... He was direct. He spoke forcefully in support for the war in Iraq." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 9/5/07)<!--[endif]-->
McCain "Roared Back With A Strong Debate Performance"
Fox News' Carl Cameron: "[J]ohn McCain Reasserted Himself." (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes", 9/5/07)
Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody: McCain "Roared Back With A Strong Debate Performance Where He ... Looked Like A Very Strong Commander In Chief." "John McCain ... roared back with a strong debate performance where he highlighted his military service, honor and leadership credentials. ... McCain looked like a very strong commander in chief. He had a game plan going in to let people know he's the man to lead in Iraq and beyond and if the military surge keeps working and political reconciliation begins to take hold, he may be in a position for a comeback." (David Brody, "McCain And Huckabee Shine In GOP Debate," Christian Broadcasting Network's "Brody File" Blog, 9/5/07)
National Review's Rich Lowry: "I Think McCain Won" As "His National Security/Military Experience [Was] His Real Strength Tonight." "I think McCain won (but all my judgments are being poisoned by the Luntz focus group as we speak). Republicans tend to disagree with him on immigration, the tax pledge, and interrogation, but he scored against Romney on immigration, had a fine answer on the tax pledge, and put his interrogation position in the context of his national security/military experience, which was his real strength tonight. His answers on Iraq and Iran were passionate and deeply informed. It also helped create the impression that he had the upper-hand tonight that Giuliani and Huckabee gave him props three times. Combine all this with the fact that he was relaxed, feisty, and fluid, and it was a strong night for him." (Rich Lowry, "My Take," National Review's "The Corner" Blog, 9/5/07)
The American Spectator's Jennifer Rubin: "McCain Helped Himself Tremendously -- Reminding Us Why It Is Better To Have An Experienced, Sober Adult At The Helm Of American Foreign Policy." (Jennifer Rubin, "Wrap," The American Spectator's "AmSpec" Blog, 9/5/07)
National Review's Kathryn Jean Lopez: "[M]cCain Is The Winner Of This Debate ..." (Rich Lowry, "Rudy On Iran," National Review's "The Corner" Blog, 9/5/07)
Town Hall Blog's Matt Lewis: "McCain Looks Good Tonight. So Far, He Seems To Have More Energy, And Be More Comfortable ..." (Matt Lewis, "1st Fall Prez Debate ...," Townhall Blog, 9/5/07)
National Review's Seth Leibsohn: "McCain's Night So Far. ... He's Looked More Fresh And Sounded More Clear Than Any Debate This Year And He's Finally Relaxed." (Seth Leibsohn, "Rich Is Right," National Review's " The Corner" Blog, 9/5/07)
McCain "Fabulous" On National Security
National Review's Andy McCarthy: "McCain On The Surge. Fabulous." (Andy McCarthy, "Not Apparently. It's Working," National Review's "The Corner" Blog, 9/5/07)
National Review's Mark Hemmingway: "My Mother-In-Law's Response -- 'I Love It When He Gets This Way.'" (Mark Hemingway, "McCain Insists The Surge Is Working," National Review's "The Corner" Blog, 9/5/07)
The American Spectator's Jennifer Rubin: "This Is Where McCain Shines." "McCain says 'Governor, the surge is working.' Romney tries to interrupt with 'apparently.' McCain cuts him off. McCain 1-Romney 0 on that. McCain repeats 'Not apparently.' This is where McCain shines." (Jennifer Rubin, "Foreign Policy," The American Spectator's "AmSpec" Blog, 9/5/07)
National Review's Jim Geraghty: "It's McCain At His Best." (Jim Gerarty, "The New Hampshire Republican Debate, Part Three," National Review's "Horserace" Blog, 9/5/07)
McCain Even Praised By Fellow Republican Candidates
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee: "Senator McCain made a great point, and let me make this clear, if there's anybody on this stage that understands the word honor, I've got to say Sen. McCain understands that word because he has given his country a sacrifice the rest of us don't even comprehend, and on this issue, when he says we can't leave until we've left with honor, I 100 percent agree with him ..." (Fox News Republican Presidential Debate, Durham, NH, 9/5/07)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· Watch Huckabee Praise McCain's Service<!--[endif]-->
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani: "I have tremendous respect for Sen. McCain. I think I've said, more than once, if I wasn't running I'd probably be supporting him for President." (Fox
