GOP debate opens with economic questions (AP)

House Speaker John Boehner's promise on Wednesday to balance the federal budget "over the next 10 years" was aimed at convincing Tea Party conservatives in Congress to hold their fire over a bill to temporarily raise the U.S. debt ceiling.

The latest debate among candidates for the GOP Presidential nomination was held on September 12 in Tampa, Florida. The news headlines are focusing on how the rest of the field hammered Rick Perry like a pi??ata, trying to bleed support from the clear front-runner. But I want to focus on the lengthy health-care segment of the debate, which moderator Wolf Blitzer did a good job with. Though there were a few bright spots, there were more moments of disappointment. Mitt Romney embodied both, while Michele Bachmann was merely the latter.

Not your grandfather’s Republican Party My lifelong friend and high-school classmate had an wonderful op-ed on iPolitics today. Please consider Not your grandfather’s Republican Party by David Wise.

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum stood out tonight as the winners of the debate. Mitt Romney gave a solid front-runner performance and left pretty much untouched by his opponents. Meanwhile Rick Santorum came off as a much more likable candidate in this round-table setting than he ever has before.

[AP] - Minnesota rivals Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann sparred bitterly Thursday night during an eight-candidate Republican debate, trying to break out of the GOP presidential pack ahead of an Iowa test vote with huge consequences. Each seeks to become the main challenger to Republican front-runner Mitt Romney.