Debate Format Gets A Thumbs Up From Crowd

Accustomed more to solo campaign events or debates that feature more style than substance, many among the 500 or so attendees at Monday's Palmetto Freedom Forum gave the event format an enthusiastic thumbs up.

At the nationally televised forum in Columbia, hosted by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and the conservative American Principles Project, each candidate was given 22 minutes alone on stage under the bright lights, and subjected to a series of questions posed by a three-person panel of questioners that included DeMint, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), and APP founder Robert George.

With other candidates sequestered backstage, individual candidates had the opportunity to respond at length to questions dealing with such things as the economy, defense, immigration and various social issues.

For many voters, it was the best chance they've had to see the various candidates in action. Several voters likened the event to a "job interview."

"I loved the format, I absolutely loved it," said Lynn Bridges of Sumter. "You got to hear a lot more without the gotcha questions, without the bickering between them. It was one on one, just one at a time on the stage. I loved it."

"They ought to ditch that other format, where they all have podiums, and go to this," said John Parker, who chairs the Chesterfield County Republican Party.

The absence of Gov. Rick Perry, who stayed behind in Texas as his home state battles a wildfire breakout, disappointed many, but voters said they understood.

"He actually has a job to do," one voter said. "I understand why he couldn't be here," Bridges said. "He has zero control over fire, but I would have loved to have heard him."

Despite what many considered the unprecedented opportunity to hear the candidates speak substantively on issues near and dear to them, many voters still said they aren't quite ready to pick a favorite. However, attendees said some candidates did stand out during the forum.

"I'm still trying to figure it out," Bridges said. "But I liked Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, and Mitt Romney."

Though Romney is perhaps the most moderate of the candidates who spoke, Bridges said she was pleased that Romney's answers seemed to jibe with those of ultra-conservative Tea Party favorites Bachmann and Cain.

Edward Cousar of Rock Hill, who serves as the Executive Director of the Black Republican PAC, said he was particularly pleased with Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. Cousar said while many of the topics, such as healthcare and foreign policy, have been addressed at length this campaign season, he was pleased that the panel asked candidates their stance on immigration, which he believes deserves more emphasis in the campaign.

"Everything else I've heard so much," he said. "But no one really talks about securing the borders. I wish that Gov. Perry would have been here, because he would have talked about that also."

I think they all did well," said Rex Huggins of Florence. "But I didn't perceive in my mind one being better than the other."

"I'm a constitutional conservative, and they all sounded pretty much the same to me," remarked Janet Danker of Virginia. "But I'm glad at least they all seem on the same page — at least I'm hoping they are."

Parker, of Chesterfield County, said he favored Bachmann, Cain, and Gingrich, but that no one person "won."

"But I could easily vote for any one of those three," he said.

Wade Holland, a Lexington business owner, however, gave the nod overall to Gingrich  and Cain — though he still hasn't made up his mind who he will vote for either in next year's state primary.

Holland added that he was touched by anti-war candidate, Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

"I go back to what Ron Paul said about bringing everybody back home‚ about bringing the soldiers home," Holland said. "That hit home to me; I've got friends over there."

While Holland doesn't have a favorite yet, "I do feel a lot more comfortable with what I've heard here today," he said. "Any of the five we got here would definitely be better than what we've got now."

Ben Kinlaw, who chairs the Barnwell County Republican Party, said, "I'm keeping my powder dry."

Kinlaw said he appreciated the humor and vigor of Herman Cain and thought he did well connecting with the audience.

Kinlaw noted that several people he had spoken with were upset that declared candidates Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman were not invited to the event, while non-candidates Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani were. To be invited, persons had to poll above five percent in the state, a limit that Santorum and Huntsman failed to meet.

"Some I've spoken with had an issue with that," he said, "But like I told them, you have to have a cut-off point. I'm glad the candidates had this opportunity. My view is ABO — Anybody But Obama."