Carly Fiorina was the...

...clear winner in last night's debate -- she was prepared, smooth and crisp. But it doesn't change her biggest liability: she's just not qualified to be president. Fiorina is a great speaker and debater (what a good answer about her failed tenure at Hewlett-Packard!) and could very well be the eventual nominee's running mate. But Ms. Fiorina does have one other problem: she's no more "likable" than Hillary Clinton (or anyone else, for that matter).

Donald Trump and Ben Carson showed themselves to be empty suits last night, but the big question is: Will it even matter? (How Carson even got on that stage is a mystery to me. Well, not really: Republicans love black conservatives. But could anyone really see him in the White House?)

Rand Paul and Chris Christie also did well, I thought, but probably not enough to save their dying campaigns.

As for the rest of them, I doubt if anyone moved the needle. Bush came across as a weak version of his dad and brother -- it's really hard to believe he will get the nomination. Cruz is smarmy, and Huckabee, Rubio, Walker and Kasich were just plain invisible.

Bottom line: Fiorina's poll numbers should improve, while the Donald's rapid ascent may finally slow down a little. But that's about it.