Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich may be making a comeback, Christian Science Monitor reports.

Many pundits, including former Alaska gov. Sarah Palin, University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato, and CBS political analyst Brian Montpoli, agreed that Gingrich finished at the head of the pack during Tuesday night’s debate.

Gingrich’s professional demeanor and ideas peppered with historical reference presented a candidate above the fray.

“It’s probably not going to lead him to the nomination, but it’s turning what had been a catastrophic campaign into a respectable one,” wrote Montopoli.

Since a mass exodus of campaign staff, the Gingrich campaign has dropped off in the polls. The Real Clear Politics rolling average placed Gingrich at 5 percent.

Gingrich’s good behavior at the debate rewarded him with a slight rebound in the polls, with major surveys reporting Gingrich’s popularity at 8.3 percent.