How Rick Perry Won the Debate - Jonathan Chait

http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/94678/how-rick-perry-won-the-debate

Yet Perry, stylistically, ruled the roost. The media seems to consider Romney the winner. Pardon the condescension, but they’re not thinking like Republican base voters. Romney approaches every question as if he is in an actual debate, trying to provide the most intellectually compelling answer available, within the bounds of political expediency. Perry treats questions as interruptions. What scientists do you trust on climate change? I don’t want to risk the economy. Are you taking a radical position on social security?  We can have reasons or we can have results. His total liberation from the constraints of reason give Perry a chance to represent the Republican id in a way Romney simply cannot match.

Last night showed Rick Perry's act to be easily conflated with George W. Bush's. And like W...he could care less. As Chait points out, Perry exudes the type of leadership that the Republican base wants: unencumbered by parameters or rules, incurious and rash, but ready to act immediately.

Whether Perry won or Romney won is up for debate, but it is clear that this is now a two-candidate race.