I watched every minute of this debate, and have awatched the previous debates. Clearly the moderating of this debate was inferior. There was skewing of audience questions and repeated provocation of the candidates rather than a focus on issues.
Clinton was completely in form and very impressive. The problem with that is that it simply form, not substance.
More after the break...
While she continued to traingulate on virtually every issue tonight , she was not called out on it: e.g. social security and medicare? What is YOUR plan Hillary?
e.g. Pakistan: what is your plan or your opinoin of senator biden's plan. do you agree or disagree.
e.g. Iran: she was able to call them a terrorist army while suggesting diplomacy. no one in their right mind calls someone a terrorist if they're sincere about sitting down with them for diplomacy. It was a play to her base which is very pro israel.
Overall, she won the floor because she was the smoothest and best prepared.
Obama's performance was disapointing. He simply cannot confront Hillary credibly, and I am afraid it will cost him the nomination.
Kucinich , Dodd, Biden, and RIchardson, all did well in my opinion.
Edwards performance was clearly the weakest based on his attacks in a clearly unfriendly audience to him.
Update: How do we ake it from here? Here's my take:
The facts about the candidates remains unchanged.
Clinton may win this debate on form but beacuse her substance lacks, she will remain vulnerable on the issues. Opponents must hammer home the issues.
Obama must be able to gain some consistency. He cannot be powerful and inspirational one day, and then die out the following day. He needs to maintain a level of projecting competence and mastery of the major issues of the day and convey that. It seems he is getting into obfuscation as well, at least thats what his answer to the driver's license question conveyed in perception.
Edwards populism seems feigned given his history in the previous election. He simply doesnt appear credible. maybe it is a bias against trial lawyers? But he can only hope cto convince voters.
Richardson is tremendously capable, but should be an ambassaador or secretary of state. He doesnt have the stage presence that others do.
Biden is a firebrand, but his history in the senate has given him too much baggage. This is his last battlecry, but his time has come and gone. He will be a fantastic asset to any administration.
Kucinich. Frankly, america is simply not ready for kucinich, He is evolutionarily ahead of the public mindset, and as with great people, he will not be recognized in this election for what he is, the most competent of them all.
Dodd is a great statesman. But he is clearly an entrenched politician in washingtonian speak. His answer today on Pakistan and supporting musharraf was particularly disturbing. Nevertheless, He is gaining greater respect as the process has moved forward. If Dodd had money, and there was more time, I would have had money on him influencing the race dramatically. But he hasnt made enough inroads with the money he had and the previous many months.