Quote from Epic:
Back on topic..
My prediction is that Newt dominates the debate tonight and edges out Romney in FL because of it.
Romney threw his best punches on Monday. Newt is too skilled in the debates to let him do that again tonight. The only thing that Romney can do is call him out on it when Newt starts spinning things.
Like on Monday when Newt started spinning his resignation from the speakership as a conscious effort to allow other GOP stars to shine, thereby turning himself into a martyr.
Ron Paul called him on it, but he wasn't very aggressive. He just pointed out that Newt didn't have the votes to stay.
Romney must take it one step further, even interrupting Newt mid sentence if he must. Something like, "Newt, you can sit here with beautiful rhetoric all night trying to turn it into a positive, but everyone here can see through it. You were so erratic and ineffective as a leader during your time as speaker that you were forced out. We've all worked with people who have "voluntarily resigned" before they were fired, but let's face it, you got fired."
Then turn to the audience, "All good managers know that it's great to have a "big idea" guy like Newt on your team. As a team member, guys like Newt are incredibly valuable and provide wonderful input. Good managers also know that these "big idea" guys make terrible managers. They have no ability to differentiate between an idea worth pursuing, and one that should be discarded. Newt would make a wonderful consultant, but a terrible President."
If I were his debate prep, that's the route I'd take. But Romney is probably going to stick to his prepared lines about resigning in disgrace. Newt is going to have prepped a response just for that exact statement. And there goes Romney's chance to point out that Newt perceived strength is actually his biggest weakness, which is Debate 101.