CNN Transcript of Debate: Read the Official Words

Two strong performances = advantage for Obama (0.00 / 0)

Both candidates looked very "presidential". Obama's body language was more confident than Clinton's (whose forced smile was sometimes a little creepy), but when it came to speaking, they both made their points very, very effectively. Most of the time they were saying the same things, but on Cuba and health care they actually had some meaningful debate. If this were a radio debate, I might give the nod to Clinton. Since it was televised, I'll give it to Obama, especially compared to his past (weak) debate performances.

But it doesn't really matter who looked slightly better or worse. The biggest effect of having them both look good is that it takes away Clinton's "I'm ready to lead and he isn't" argument. If voters are comfortable with both candidates, the majority will vote for Obama. He's already closing hard in both Texas and Ohio. The debate will only accelerate that. Look for Obama to be ahead in Texas by early next week, and essentially tied in Ohio before election day.

Clinton seemed to be struggling with the decision of whether to go for the jugular or whether to make nice, give up her chance at a miracle comeback, and lose with dignity. The panel practically begged her to attack, and she didn't bite. Then she tried the "xerox" line, which bombed. Then she was gracious for the rest of the debate, especially with her (very moving) closing statement, which sounded like a farewell blessing.

I can easily imagine her facing a bunch of stunned advisors tonight, explaining that she just couldn't pull the trigger on all the attack lines they'd prepared.

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by: LSadun @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 04:45:39 AM UTC

She'll also have to lay off the "plagiarism" meme... (5.00 / 1)

...having "borrowed" John Edwards' "We'll be fine" line. Funny, her best moment in the debate wasn't even hers.

"A time comes when silence is betrayal." Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: liberaldemdave @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 20:26:51 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Will anyone question Hillary... (0.00 / 0)

...for slamming Kirk Watson in tonight's debate? I thought it was interesting for her to bring it up in the Texas debate!

Olbermann's talking about it now on MSNBC.

"A time comes when silence is betrayal." Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: liberaldemdave @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 05:24:13 AM UTC

That was (3.00 / 1)

a huge mistake....probably her biggest mistake of the debate, since he is so popular in Austin.

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by: Judith Ford @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 05:43:23 AM UTC

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I completely (0.00 / 0)

disagree with you. I thought Hillary looked energized and on point. She seemed comfortable, natural, and professional.  There were a lot of her supporters there, and she knew it.  She came out first, and there was a HUGE roar from the crowd as she came out, for her.

I thought Obama looked tired...from his cold, maybe? His eyes just did not have that sparkle that they usually do. I thought he looked like he had on a lot of pancake makeup. You rarely saw that megawatt smile he is capable of.

Just goes to show you, I guess, that we will see what we want to see.

One of CNN's reporters said that backstage, SHE approached him, and they had a couple of laughs about their secret service guys buying cowboy boots. The concensus at other outlets is that she decided to take the high road tonite (except for that xerox crack, which I bet she regrets).  

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by: Judith Ford @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 05:42:13 AM UTC

There seems to be wide agreement (0.00 / 0)

that she hit the last question out of the park. Obama had a good night but that was one of his weaker answers. To end with what some are calling another "New Hampshire momemnt" was an advantage for Hillary.

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by: David Mauro @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 05:45:22 AM UTC

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The Last Question ? (3.00 / 1)

Many people are saying that the way HRC answered the last question won the debate for her.  I really don't see how, especially because she stole her last lines from Sen. Edwards' closing remarks in the Iowa debate (December 13, 2007).The following is from a transcript from that debate

To remember that in the midst of political hoopla the glorification of politicians and presidential candidates that somewhere in America tonight a child will go to bed hungry, somewhere in America tonight a family will have to go to the emergency room and beg for health care for a sick child, that somewhere in America today a father who's worked for 30 or 40 years to support his family will lose his job, and that that's what's at stake in this election. What's not at stake are any of us. All of us are going to be just fine no matter what happens in this election. But what's at stake is whether America is going to be fine.

It's funny because during the debate she called Obama out on his supposed plagiarism when she used her cheap line of "change we can xerox" I wonder who she took THAT line from!

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by: Hangerman44 @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 06:24:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

that isn't stolen (0.00 / 0)

it is just shared...ask Obama!

The sentiment is the same, but i think the actual language, tone and tempo were not lifted directly.

Again, all of this plagiarism crap is a worthless distraction for both sides.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 06:35:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So now the tone and tempo can change ownership (0.00 / 0)

Deval Patrick is one of Obama's campaign national co-chairs.  He supports Obama and he doesn't have a problem with Obama using/borrowing his words.

I assume that Hillary like wise has permission from her husband Bill to use his words on the "the  hits I take don't matter" bit of her closing statement.  

But you are right the whole plagiarism distraction is crap. She should never have made an issue of it.

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by: sonia @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 22:05:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

thought hillary killed it (0.00 / 0)

outside of the "zinger" that fell completely flat.

Obama didn't seem as fluid and composed as he usually is. seemed a little disjointed or something. he seemed to not answer certain questions and filibuster others.  The last question was an absolute disaster for Obama.

Hillary seemed very much at ease and, yes, her last answer brought down the house.  You could see obama motion to the moderator to try and get back in on it..."dang, i should've said that". Hillary was winning all along, but the final answer put it away.

The Obama fans were very energized. He could have scratched his crotch and 300 people would have broken into enthusiastic applause. One time he said something like "I applaud Sen. Clinton for working on universal health care" and before he could finish the sentence 600 hands clapped like crazy.

Hillary's fans were much more subdued throughout.  In the room it felt like Obama won because of all the clapping, but because the applause doesn't play real well on tv when the crowd isn't mic'd...not so much on tv.

I thought the Watson comment was appropriate given how virally it has grown and she is pointing out that even his supporters don't know his record. Obama could have earned his largest applause of the night by saying something like "I'm proud to have the support of Kirk Watson and hundreds of elected officials around the country. My supporters come from all walks of life, all races and all economic backgrounds. I don't care if they know my talking points or not as long as that share my desire to change Washington, DC".

Thought the event went very smooth. There were a few bad seats due to camera placement and there wasn't a lot of enforcement of the wristband rule, but the crowd was very enthusiastic.

Talked to a few people who actually won tickets through the drawing. They had never signed up on the TDP website before, so I thought that was cool.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 06:30:49 AM UTC

typo (0.00 / 0)

Should have said "I don't care if they know my talking points or not, as long as THEY share my desire..."  

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Fri Feb 22, 2008 at 06:32:37 AM UTC

[ Parent ]