Opponents' 'terrific' hits give Romney an opening

She said she was "appalled" by McCain. She said "the smirking and the comments and the laughter" toward Romney were unnecessary in the debate.

"He held up very well," Tarr said of Romney.

Debbie Richmond, who lives in Massachusetts but owns a home in Peterborough, N.H., said Romney "looked like a CEO" among the bickering politicians and felt he was really trying to concentrate on the issues.

"I didn't know if he could handle the heat," she said, but by the time it was over she felt he did.

On Sunday morning's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," Romney said he thought the hits from his opponents on Saturday were "terrific."

"It's like the guy with the ball is the guy people are trying to tackle," Romney said. "So I'm delighted to have everybody talking about me. You know, it's like that old joke, I'll talk about me, when I get finished, why don't you talk about me."

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