I can definitely make one definitive statement about last night’s debate: It was far more entertaining than that yawnfest we endured earlier in the week.

A few observations, if I may …

The audience reaction suggests that people are sick and tired of the back-and-forth, political bantering that the ObamaMedia loves to stir up. The audible disdain with which the audience reacted to Wolf Blitzer’s question about Newt’s reaction to Romney’s tax returns really sums things up: Americans are ready to discuss the issues. It only seems to be the elite media (as Newt calls them) who are interesting in perpetuating this petty banter.

How many of these debates have these guys participated in now … 10, 12, 16? It’s been a lot of them, and they have been at it for months. Finally, after all this time, someone launched a concerted and effective attack against Mitt Romney and RomneyCare. And that person was Rick Santorum. He held Romney’s feet to the fire on the issue in a way that he could expect from Obama if he is the nominee.

Newt needed a knock-out punch in order to stop the creeping surge for Romney in the Florida polls. Newt had a great night, but there were no John King moments. Unfortunately for Newt, debates play to his strengths and there isn’t another debate for a long while. That leaves things in the hands of the campaign staffs, campaign coffers and the ObamaMedia.

What all the candidates said, and I hope this is something that becomes a pervasive message as more people watch these debates, is that this election truly presents a crossroads for Americans. The heaviness of this decision is truly starting to sink in. The need to defeat Obama is imperative. But who can actually pull that off?

If I only knew …