Rough And Tumble, Analysis
This was the rowdiest debate by far in the Democratic contest. And while each of the candidates had fine moments, I'd score this one for John Edwards. Especially in the standing portion of this two-hour rumble.
Why?
Because at this point, Edwards is trailing perhaps irreparably in the polls. He is, by anyone's estimation, the also-ran in this historic face-off between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But, tonight, he was the catalyst for the action. In the first half of the debate, he helped Clinton effectively hammer Barack Obama on credit card legislation, health care and those pesky present votes. On the latter, in particular, Edwards asked and reasked the same question. Dogged, unrelenting.
"It does not make sense to me," he said to Obama, finger wagging, as Clinton looked on. "What if I had just not shown up to vote on things that really matter to this country?"
Obama still has not crafted a clear, concise response to the question of those 129 votes he cast as 'present' while an Illinois state senator. A seemingly minor matter (a la driver's licenses for illegal immigrants), it's still throwing him off his game. And it was this exchange that capped a series of heated exchanges between he and Clinton that left Obama struggling to regain his composure. Ronald Reagan and Tony Rezko. Clinton tried to paint Obama as hazy on the issues, saying his position on Iraq has evolved, that his health care plan doesn't provide universal coverage, that he all but lauded the GOP for being the party of ideas.
Edwards, meanwhile, used his oft overused personal story well tonight. His talk of poverty as the 'cause of my life' felt, however, dramatically overstated -- especially on this MLK holiday and in front of a largely African-American audience.
That said, the friction between Clinton and Obama remains the overarching storyline of this campaign. And this evening there were ample fireworks between the two frontrunners. Though the crowd was clearly with Obama, Clinton scored several points -- even effectively defending her husband's attacks on Obama. With firm, clear, tough, yes, sometimes shrill, answers, she played tonight to win the general; Obama, meanwhile, was wooing South Carolinians.
Still, the second half proved a better outing for Obama. He almost always lands well when he uses humor to make his point. Example ... His answer to a question about Bill Clinton being the first black president, saying he'd have to see him dance before passing judgment. And he offered the line of the night about President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney:
"The one good thing that they have done for us is that they have given their party a very bad name," he said.
At least the three candidates could utter a collective "Amen" to that.
(JENNIIFER SKALKA)
Edwards, meanwhile, used his oft overused personal story well tonight. His talk of poverty as the 'cause of my life' felt, however, dramatically overstated -- especially on this MLK holiday and in front of a largely African-American audience.
Is this what passes for political "reporting" these days? I'm sorry if you're bored. Perhaps you need to consider a job change if you're looking to be entertained.
Perhaps Edwards' "oft overused personal story" looks a little different in the context of a letter he received (excerpted):
The author of that letter is Martin Luther King III. Here is the letter's conclusion:
I don’t know about you, but if I got a letter like that, it would be framed and on my wall where every visitor could see it.