I’m wondering if anyone noticed the uneven time given to candidates. They did this in previous debates, but the crowd was much more docile and like a sit-com studio audience this time…they didn’t start booing like they did before. Possibly because it was a much smaller crowd, and probably much more controlled. This allowed the network to get away with the uneven questioning without a bunch of backlash.
If you count 1 tally as a full minute question and a half tally as a 30 second rebuttal, it went like this:
Santorum 6.5
Gingrich 6.5
Bachmann 9
Romney 12.25
Perry 13.75
Paul 7.75
Cain 6
Huntsman 9
Of course after the debate the MSNBCers said “Hunstman really came out tonight much more than he has in previous debates”…but as the facts of timing show, it’s because this time he was actually allowed to talk. He was given roughly 8 full length questions…while Cain and Santorum each got six. Paul got seven and Gingrich got five. Romney and Perry each got at least 10. Really disgraceful if you ask me. I actually found myself saying “let Santorum answer a question.”