BuzzFeed Grades The CNN Debate

Because you were bored of everybody else's letter grades. What is this? School?

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich blew away viewers with his barrage on CNN for opening the debate with a question about his ex-wife. The exchange instantly set the tone for the testy debate, and put Gingrich in a strong position from the start.

Ron Paul

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney called his own cited program by the derogatory term used by its conservative critics, and said he comes from “the real streets of America.” He handed his rivals easy points of attack on a silver platter, and once again demonstrated that he is out of touch with real Americans.

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum unloaded on Newt Gingrich tonight, but also provided some of the most unusual moments of the night — whispering into the microphone to highlight his steadfast opposition to abortion, and accusing Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney of “playing footsie with the left.”