THE NBC NEWS FLORIDA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE............

As the Republican Presidential candidates go to the Sunshine State in the eight days until the Florida Primary next Tuesday January 31st, they met in another Debate tonight in Tampa, sponsored by NBC News and moderated by Brian Williams. In contrast to last week's two debates in South Carolina, tonight's performance was much more laid back on the part of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, although Romney challenged Gingrich over his role and revenue received from Freddie Mac, and said three times in the first seven minutes of the Debate that Gingrich had resigned from the Speakership of the House of Representatives for failed leadership. Gingrich was no where near the fiery rhetorician he has been during most of these debates, and seemed to want to stay above the fray; letting Romney play the role of attack dog tonight. Accusing Gingrich of lobbying for Freddie Mac in regards to the mortgage crisis, and influence pedaling of GOP House members over Medicare Part D, prescription drug coverage for senior citizens, Romney was clearly on the offensive, trying very hard to put and keep Gingrich on the defensive. The most lively one on one exchange between Romney and Gingrich came as they disputed each other over the roles they played and profited from in Bain Capital and Freddie Mac; and the ethics of the monies derived to each of them personally the enterprises. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. put in solid and sound performances in answering the questions directed to them and in responding and taking their opposition to both Gingerich and Romney. Given what seems to be unfolding on the Florida campaign trail and media ads, in directly criticizing and attacking the other's records by name; what transpired in tonight's Tampa Debate co-sponsored with NBC News, by the National Journal and the Tampa Bay Times, was a civil interaction, with a strategically offensive Mitt Romney, not getting a high powered defensive Gingrich reaction, but a more frontrunner-esqe response, not attacking the media elites. Both of them along with Santorum also spent a fair portion of their responses to the questions posed zeroed in on President Obama's record and shortcomings, as they are mounting their campaigns against him now, and vow to be the most effectively able to do so in this Fall's General Election for President............Fr. Troy