I counted these thirteen distinct questions asked by moderator John King, audience members, and submitted through the Internet

1. Character attacks, Newt’s ex-wife
2. Specific programs to reduce unemployment
3. Bain Capital
4. Returning veterans & Unemployment
5.  Obamacare Repeal possibility
6. Gingrich’s suggestion that Santorum drop out
7. Release of Tax Returns
8. Jobs. Apple given as example of a company moving manufacturing overseas
9. SOPA
10. If you could change one thing you’ve done in the campaign
11. Immigration
12. Abortion, specifically Newt’s ads about Romney
13. Make your case to SC (Closing statement)

I think they could have done without so many questions about campaign ads, tax returns, etc, but at least their weren’t any questions about contraception. Also seems odd that they didn’t squeeze in a question on foreign policy but, at least we heard what everyone thought about Newt asking Santorum to bow out.

Ron Paul received better treatment from John King tonight than he did from Bret Baier on Fox the other night, but he still seemed to go forgotten for long stretches of time. This was largely because the other candidates didn’t attack him by name, so he didn’t get involved in many of the back and forth that the others did. For example, the question about Obamacare was answered first by Mitt Romney followed by Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. In his response Santorum questioned Romney and Gingrich’s ability to defeat Obamacare because of their past support for an individual mandate. This, of course, meant that they each has a chance to respond and so on. The result was that we were treated to Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Romney, Santorum, Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Gingrich, before Dr. Ron Paul was given a chance to answer a question about health care.

The only person for whom the debate may have made a difference was Newt Gingrich.  His forceful response to the question about his ex-wife’s interview got a standing ovation from those attending the debate and going after the “liberal media” is always a hit with GOP voters.

Aside from that first question, which was just stupid, I thought tonight’s debate was less infuriating than Fox’s debacle, but there’s still too much focus on the he said\she said nonsense.

Video of that segment:

h/t RonPaulFlix

I thought Rep. Paul gave a number of great answers on the effect of the drug war on minorities, cutting defense spending, and taxes, but the it’s the foreign policy issue that will keep many Republicans from supporting him. That’s the issue on which he needs to convince voters.