Bill Richardson made about three or four comments in last night's debate in which he basically was making Obama's case for him, but he went a step beyond Obama in asking the American people for sacrifice, which I liked. Richardson made his executive experience his main case, said a couple of time that he was the only one who had actually balanced a budget.
Clinton made some smart attacks on Obama but he parred them well enough (in my perception). She managed to come off knowledgable and competent, which is going to remain her main message. She also managed to look human. The message that she had been bringing change for 35 years is one she should drop ASAP IMO because it comes off a bit desperate, but that is my perception again.
Obama's main message seemed to be 'bringing people back into government'. He talked a lot about government transparency, public participation. Brought a few examples on how he had worked for that. This was new to me; it fit in well with his overarching theme of change and hope.
John Edwards was on message nearly all the time about the corporate lobbying machine and how he personally embodied the struggle against that.
At the end of the debate, the candidates had the chance to bring up a regret from one of their previous debates, but only Edwards and Richardson chose to be sports. Hillary was a bit lame in bringing up the line that she'd let the pundits decide, and talking about how the debates had shown that the Democrats were just much more engaged in the problems the next president would face. Obama was even lamer in parroting Hillary and using that to stay on message.
The message that she had been bringing change for 35 years is one she should drop ASAP IMO because it comes off a bit desperate, but that is my perception again.
Wasn't the quote something like
"We've had 35 years of change now?"
Semantic disaster clean-up on aisle 1 please.
Her problem is that, while Dems like her and are obviously excited by the prospect of a female candidate, she's up against a change elections. I had no idea the electorate was so strongly looking at change rather than experience, but it's gone from the storm I expected to a tsunami. Even the splitting of the change vote between Edwards and Obama isn't going to be enough for her, as Elizabeth Edwards pointed out, because undecideds are breaking to O and E.
Edwards is actually catching up to her in New Hampshire (he's up 6%, she's down 10%, O's up 10-15%), which I'm stunned by, and he really got to her in last night's debate. (I'm really glad Clinton didn't come packing, because I think she might have shot Edwards.) Edwards, in short, smells blood with Clinton. It makes sense, because pushing out Clinton gives him a one-on-one chance with Obama while also pairing himself with Obama, leaving the door open to the Veep slot if he fails to take the nod.
It was painfully obvious how this election was going to come down last night. Edwards and Obama were sat on the left, with Richardson and Clinton on the right, and that was the fight it wound up being. (I can only assume Richardson has decide to give up on any hope he might have had for VP with Obama, should O become the nominee.) That's not a fight Clinton and Richardson are going to win, especially given that Richardson's people fled to Edwards and Obama on Thursday. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
I do believe the Democrats were just more engaged in the problems the next president would face as you say because as I see it, they have a lot more at stake -- the "disadvantage" of non-incumbents if you like.
Clinton had good and bad moments. Her response to the question on likability was cute, and the little exchange between she and Obama that followed, even more so. It was sort of girlie, but I think it helped to remind people that, yes, she's not a robot.
Obama was successful last night by not being rattled. He needed to stay calm and avoid a big fuck-up, and he did so. Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin
