Romney, Pawlenty, Bachmann Break Ground with GOP Debate Performance

COMMENTARY | With the Republican presidential primary still 17 months away, polls have shown the race to be wide-open. Monday night's second Republican debate is unlikely to reveal a frontrunner, as the candidates opted to criticize the Obama administration and, for the most part, leave the criticisms of each other for another day.

Despite the lack of a "winner," the conversation revealed what will likely become a few different themes of the primary season, at least in the short-term. Three candidates seemed to repeatedly drift back to particular themes, and we can expect those themes to remain at the forefront until one candidate takes the reins or a developing issue begins to dominate the conversation.

Mitt Romney

It was no secret coming into Monday's debate that Romney would be challenged, either by the moderator or another candidate, on the healthcare plan he championed as governor of Massachusetts. The other candidates, for the most part, took it easy on Romney during the debate. However, Romney was asked to defend his healthcare plan, which he did, and better than most had anticipated.

First, he differentiated himself from Obamacare by pointing out that Obama did not consult with him in passing the federal legislation. In fact, the former governor said he would have advised the president that Obamacare wouldn't work. He also argued that his plan was state-based and did not raise taxes, two key differences from Obamacare.

Michigan is a state that the Republicans have a chance to take in the November 2012 presidential election, and Romney may have an advantage being from the state and being the son of a former governor of the state. However, his criticism of Obama's GM and Chrysler bailouts may not resonate well in the Motor City, where thousands of auto workers feel that the bailouts saved their jobs.

Tim Pawlenty

The Associated Press quoted Pawlenty not long ago calling Romney's healthcare plan "Obamneycare;" it appeared to be the first move by a Republican candidate to tie Romney to Obama's healthcare policies. The Republican debate would have been the perfect venue to come out swinging on the issue, but Pawlenty backed down. At times, when asked about his statements, he almost seemed to retreat from his position and refused to attack Romney. If Pawlenty remains unwilling to attack his fellow Republican hopefuls and make a theme of it, his chances of emerging from the stalemate are thin.

While Pawlenty's attack was non-existent, he did come out strong on a few issues. He sounded convincing in arguing that no worker should feel forced to be part of a union. Also, he likely scored some points with the religious faction of the Republican Party when he pointed out that the First Amendment was intended to protect citizens and their religion from government, not to protect government from religion. His evidence was that all but one state have constitutions with a mention of God or the Creator.

Michelle Bachmann

One of the less well-known candidates, Bachmann came into Monday's debate with the backing of the Tea Party and an excellent fundraising track record, but no formal announcement of her candidacy. She took her first opportunity on camera to announce that she had filed her paperwork and intended to seek the Republican nomination. As a Tea Party favorite, Bachmann did well in introducing herself to those who didn't know much about her and revealing that she will push the Tea Party agenda as far as it will take her.

In referencing William F. Buckley, she defended the movement by arguing that Buckley would have included them in the conservative movement. She worked her personal life into the debate, discussing her background as a tax lawyer and mother of three and her experience providing a foster home for 23 children. She also attacked President Obama using his previous statements about the debt ceiling against him and argued against a U.S. presence in Libya. Overall, Bachmann's initial campaign theme came out loud and clear in her first performance in the spotlight.