DENVER — The candidates were still onstage, delivering their closing statements, but behind the scenes the march of the Republicans had begun. Into the vast media hangar they came, parading triumphantly beneath red signs bearing their names under the "R" campaign logo of Mitt Romney:

Portman. Rubio. Giuliani. Hatch.

They had come to claim victory before the first presidential debate had concluded, a show of confidence — and no shortage of satisfaction after a long month of GOP self-doubt — in their belief that their candidate had clearly bested President Barack Obama.