GOP strategist and Fox News contributor Bradley A. Blakeman tells Newsmax that Wednesday’s debate had no clear winner.
“I think it was a wasted opportunity,” Blakeman said in an exclusive interview. “I don’t think anybody came out and was bold and aggressive.”
Blakeman blamed CNN, which hosted the event, for not asking important questions.
“With gas prices this high, with energy at a crisis level in this country, why didn’t’ they address the questions that the American people wanted to hear?” asked Blakeman.
He pointed to an exchange, which was intended to elicit the candidates' views on being commander in chief.
“When they talked about being commander in chief it wasn’t the threat of Iran that led the conversation, it was women in combat,” observed Blakeman, who served as a senior member in the last Bush administration. “It was probably one of the worst-questioned debates I’ve ever seen.”
Blakeman said that former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who has been enjoying a surge in recent weeks, appeared to be unnecessarily defensive.
“I think he didn’t do himself any favors by being so defensive about his Senate record,” according to Blakeman. “I don’t think he was offensive enough. He was more playing defense than offense.”
Blakeman added that the debate is not likely to affect the outcome of Tuesday’s primary contests in Arizona or Michigan in the run-up to Super Tuesday on March 6.
“I think whatever is going to happen was going to happen regardless of what happened tonight,” said Blakeman.
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