Yahoo! News asked Florida voters to share their reactions from Monday night's debate. Below is a perspective from one voter.
COMMENTARY | LAKELAND, Fla. -- I am a student of the University of South Florida, and I watched the GOP debate in the tent set-up for about 1,000 students. The atmosphere was incredible. So many people, so passionate about what they believe in -- clapping, cheering, and booing with everything that was said during the debate.
The thing that was really off-putting about two of the GOP nominees was the first 30 minutes. It was just Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich going back and forth attacking each other's history. People came to learn about the issues, not hear about how Gingrich was a lobbyist and how Romney doesn't pay enough taxes or was a heartless businessman. During this time students could be heard calling out, "Let Ron Paul speak!"
The majority of the students in attendance seemed to be Paul supporters. When asked about electability, Paul mentioned how he has the support of registered voters younger 30. The crowd exploded with applause as Paul referred to us -- the students. When Rick Santorum talked, you would hear only two or three students clapping. Gingrich and Romney were often greeted with boos from the crowd.
The best part of the debate was the questioning at the end. Every candidate on the stage described what the perfect candidate should be. They said how he should be conservative in a way that contrasts with everything else. Paul took the advantage of speaking last on the topic -- as he always does -- and mentioned how his opponents just described Ron Paul himself. Paul also explained exactly what a conservative is: It is about smaller government with more liberty for citizens.
Paul probably won't win Florida or the nomination. No matter how well he does, though, his campaign will be viewed as a success -- because he is not just campaigning for president of the United States. He is spreading his message. A movement is growing behind him and that movement will shape the politics of the future.
I went in as an avid supporter of Paul and walked out even stronger. In his words: "Freedom is popular."
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