Huckabee, I think, stood out in this debate as the one who made sense, talked as ordinary people do, and rose above politics. They may have scored. He connected. And that’s a problem for Romney, who would like to become the alternative to John McCain among conservatives who oppose the Arizona senator. But he has very tough competition from Huckabee, who’s forcing people to re-think his run at a time when he was supposed to be out of the game.

But this has always been the way he’s worked: Romney uses money to stay competitive. Huckabee has debates.

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Ronald Reagan cast a long shadow over Wednesday night's debate. (Photo Credit: AP)

That was a good answer on Reagan’s legacy – he used it to introduce a very sly and effective reminder of Romney’s shifting positions.

- CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider

This is one of the better answers for why a governor should become president I’ve ever heard - a very compelling and eloquent answer. This is how he scores points in debates - in this case, a well-spoken defense of federalism, a very deep Republican theme.

He simply speaks in terms people relate to. He makes sense.

Related: Watch Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul debate the Iraq war

- CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider

McCain gets in a sly dig at Romney, suggesting he’s put people out of work. It’s similar to a line Huckabee’s used in anti-Romney ads: you want to vote for the guy who creates jobs, not the one who lays you off.

- CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider

McCain is taking on Rudy Giuliani’s role - assuming the terrorism issue. In short: I will protect you.

Meanwhile, Romney’s argument that a governor is by definition a leader – and a senator, by definition, is not – strikes me as very false. And Romney’s answer on the commander-in-chief question, lauding military experience, raises the question: why didn’t he serve in the armed forces?

- CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider

It’s not clear exactly what Romney’s talking about – but there’s an interesting idea somewhere in here. It’s the most intellectually interesting answer I’ve heard this evening: that there are four strategic visions in the world: Russia, China, Al Qaeda and the United States. I’m not sure I understand it, but it’s worth thinking about.

- CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider

John McCain

That was a very strange answer from McCain. Americans are not being killed in South Korea or Germany – they are in Iraq. I didn’t understand it, and I don’t think most viewers will either.

Meanwhile, Huckabee is sounding like Mr. Straight Talk.