We reviewed the high stakes for tonight's debate yesterday in a post. To repeat what we said there:

"Obama, who's closer behind [than Romney is to McCain], simply has to outshine Hillary -- much the same way JFK did against Nixon (again easier said than done) -- by making the choice a clear one between the future and the past.

For what it's worth (which may not be much), the general pundit consensus is that Mitt Romney didn't get the breakthrough he needed at last night's debate.

The press has been focusing on the wrong stakes in tomorrow's GOP Florida primary. Yes, John McCain would like to win. But what is far more important to his candidacy is that Rudy Giuliani finish far enough behind his totals that Giuliani's candidacy is buried. McCain can afford a narrow loss to Mitt Romney in Florida. What he can't afford is a viable Giuliani on Super Tuesday, draining votes from his candidacy -- especially in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.