care to pass the pipe, bro?
Did you watch the interviews done with audience members following the debates? The next day on cable tv? The political blogs? youtube?
Gravel was the star of the Dem debate - he took on everyone, got greater applause than anyone, and may have won.
Ron Paul was pretty widely called the winner - he very clearly made a name for himself in a room that was very rudy-friendly. He was talked about NONSTOP the next week by cable news and blogs. He has buzz.
These two men had probably 4 minutes of actual talking time, and they used it very well to dazzle their party members. Imagine what they could do with equal longer time in a Pres. debate.