I agree, Allison, that the debate seemed very uneventful and didn't change the dynamic of the race at all. This debate showcased the problem with having so many candidates involved--it wasn't a debate at all, but a bunch of guys trying to answer a series of random questions in 30 seconds or less. There wasn't any discussion that advanced an understanding of the issues or even the candidate's position or qualifications.
And I agree that the Reagan references were over-the-top and strained. It is understandable that they all want to claim to follow Reagan's footsteps, but this is a perfect example of when someone needs to show you, not tell you, that they get what Reagan stood for.