In last night's Republican debate Romney was the clear leader. The great hope of the Southern religious whites and Republican values voters in general, Rick Perry, was ineffectual, if not pitiful. Cain, the replacement Savior for Perry, has staked so much on the 999 plan, and the plan is so conceptually weak that I think he will fade.

Romney trapped himself on the bank bailout question. Otherwise he sailed through the debate. Romney was able to dodge the issue of "revenue raising" as part of a Super Committee resolution. My feeling is that if Romney is not taken down within the Republican primary process, he only gets stronger in the general election match-ups with Obama.  Romney still has high undecideds in his favorable/unfavorable ratings. If that is allowed to firm up on the "favorables" side of the ledger during the primary process, it will create an even bigger problem than Obama has already.

I think the person who got a big opening last night was Rick Santorum. He successfully took on Cain's 999 plan and launched a few appeals to family values voters. Santorum actually has a knowledge of how government works outside of Texas which puts him leagues in front of Perry.

A central question in all of the above is where does the "religious right" go at this point? Even at their level of zealotry they should be able to discern Perry's inability to win a general election. Of course, Santorum has no money and Perry does. In any case, Santorum may choose to take Romney on. If he does, he can force Romney into taking a position on the "revenue" issue within the Super Committee. Santorum has the advantage in this arena because of his Senate experience.

To enter the realm of gross speculation, and forgetting Occupy Wall St., an invasion of Iran and a double dip recession, the way I understand the Super Committee is that if no agreement is reached and signed by Obama, the can gets kicked into the post election lame duck and from there to 2013 where arbitrary cuts begin--but the Bush Tax Cuts expire. By doubling down on his requirements for revenue increases and his resistance to "entitlement" cuts Obama can run the last part of his campaign right at Romney's weakness, which is to have to back down on the Tea Party demand for no revenue increases--or face the consequences of huge military cuts and the expiration of the Bush tax cuts. Proviso: I could be completely wrong on this logic. 

Obviously, what happens in Europe is key. If it's a U.S. style bailout, it would seem to help Obama, but I have already speculated too wildly to continue in that vein. Suffice it to say, Romney needs to be called out on that question.

As an Obamabot it has been really difficult to see silver linings after last night's debate and faced with the possibility of Romney floating right into the general election with no one laying a glove on him. So this is the best rationalization I can come up with on short notice. I'm going to send Santorum fifty bucks.