TEXT OF OUR LIVE-BLOGGING OF THE GOP DEBATE IN ORLANDO:

COMMENT:  Advantage Romney.  It wasn't a knockout, but Romney won on points.  Perry did not do what he had to do, which was to break out as a truly national candidate.  But I don't think it was enough of a Romney victory to change the polls all that much immediately.   However, those who counted Romney out when Perry jumped into the race were clearly wrong.   

10:51 P.M. ET:  The debate is winding down and getting tired.  And now it abrupty ends.

10:47 P.M. ET:  Discussion turns to who the candidates would pick as running mates.  Silly stuff. 

They're on another break.  Only 15 minutes to go.

10:40 P.M. ET:  Back to the economy.  Each candidate is given a chance to say how he, or she, would lead.  And, you know, they're all pretty good.  These are set pieces.  Gary Johnson gives the best line of the night:  "My neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this administration."  Great laugh.  Not much happening in this round.  People are looking at their watches.

They're on another commercial break.  I still think Romney is ahead, but the last segment was confusing because of all the separate questions.  Also, we're now at the 90-minute (slightly more) mark, and a debate starts to get tiresome after about 75 minutes.  I think any impressions that are going to be made tonight have already been made. 

10:24 P.M. ET:  Discussing health care.  Perry once again defends an attempt to require an anti-cancer vaccine for girls.  He's effective and sounds compassionate, which he actually is.  It's one of his strongest traits, but it doesn't come across often enough.  Romney up, defending his Massachusetts health plan.  Now Perry snaps back, and strongly attacks Romney as someone who changes his views.  Tough attack.  Romney deflects it and turns his guns on Perry, accusing him also of flip-flopping.  I'll call this a draw.

10:15 P.M. ET:  Now they're talking about church and state.  Bachmann defends a Jeffersonian view.  And now they're talking about "don't ask, don't tell."  And now, sigh, they're talking about abortion.  Once again, the format has shifted to each candidate getting a different question, so it's confusing.  The mind starts to wander. 

10:02 P.M. ET:  Foreign policy is the subject.  Romney strongly defends our alliance with Israel, and raps Obama.  Herman Cain echoes Romney.  Perry now speaking about Pakisan, and he speaks knowledgeably.  He's done homework, and that is commendable.  Santorum up.  He's very strong on foreign policy, and takes a traditional, and good, hawkish line.  It's a strange format at this point because each candidate is being asked a different question.  I'd like to hear them answer the same question. 

They're on another commercial break.  I still think Romney has the edge in this debate, and it may be more than an edge.  I repeat my earlier feeling that he's beating Perry in the "confidence" factor.

9:47 P.M. ET:  Talking immigration.  Lots of red meat here.  Romney attacks Perry's Texas plan to provide in-state college tuition rates for illegal immigrants.  Again, he has detailed figures.  Now Perry is up.  His somewhat liberal immigration policy is controversial, possibly his Achilles heel within the Republican Party.  (Is he soft on illegal immigration?)  Perry, though, gives an effective reply, defending giving those tuition breaks.  But Rick Santorum points out that the tuition breaks give an unfair advantage to the illegals.  Perry replies, but doesn't reply to the issue, saying he'll put boots on the border if he's president.  It was an okay answer, but not great.

9:37 P.M. ET:  Debate now turns to federal education policy.  Usual conservative talk, much of it good.  But now Perry claims Romney is in favor of Obama's education policy.  Romney deflects, and lays out an education program.  Again, Romney has organized his thinking in an effective manner, and he continues to defeat Perry.  Bachmann and Cain speak about education, but our minds, I think, are focused on the two frontrunners.s

9:32 P.M. ET:  Romney up again.  Strong statement on his economic philosophy.  Now Huntsman is up.  Again, there's just a lack of impact, and no personality.  Herman Cain goes.  You have to give Herman credit, he's a great entertainer.  Has some good ideas.  But he won't get the nomination. 

9:28 P.M. ET:  Perry up, asked about Social Security.  Claims he doesn't want it returned to the states.  Romney replies, challenges strongly what Perry said, quoting Perry's recent book.  Advantage, Romney.  But now Perry responds.  And he catches Romney in a contradiction.  Romney responds, again in detail.  Romney is beating Perry.  He's got a grasp of information.

They're on a commercial break.  So far, no great fireworks, but I think Romney has the edge.  He's been aggressive and detailed.  I would say, without too much analysis, that average voters could easily feel that he, more than the others, deserves their confidence.  That is only my impression thus far.

9:15 P.M. ET:  Huntsman up.  I just find him boring.  He has this image of the "responsible" candidate, but I see a kind of shallowness.  He never seems passionate about anything.  Herman Cain is up.  You can't dislike the guy.  He has an economic plan, but it seems awfully oriented to companies.  To the voters' ears, that may not click.  Romney responds to an attack by Cain, and, once again, gives specifics.  We can't examine every aspect of his plan here, but at least he speaks in specifics, and appears to know his subjects.  That, I think, is why he's approaching Perry in some polls. 

9:09 P.M. ET:  Bachmann up, says Americans should keep every cent of what they earn, but that some has to go for taxes for the services they want.  Sensible answer, but nothing special.  Santorum and Gingrich speaks.  They have some interesting ideas, but they're not going to be nominated.  The debate is cluttered/

9:06 P.M. ET:  Perry starts by talking about what he's done for jobs in Texas.  Fine, but, again, too much Texas.  He's running for president.  Romney up now.  Gives specific ideas, whether good or bad, and gives national answers.   

9:01 P.M. ET:  Bret Baier of Fox News is introducing the candidates.  There is one new guy – former Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico.  There are nine candidates in all, too many, really, for a good debate, but we work with what we have.

WE ARE NOW STARTING OUR LIVE BLOGGING OF THE REPUBLICAN DEBATE FROM ORLANDO

September 22, 2011