Liveblog time! Check in every now and then and I’ll be writing some entries! This should be fun!

If Obama delivers the knock out blow to Hillary tonight and next week, this could be the last Democratic debate. As a liberal, I certainly hope that this is the case. We really, really need a nominee to unite behind to combat John McCain.

Update 9:30: By the way, I’m live from the UD College Democrats debate watching party. Packed room of mostly Obama supporters… there’s this one kid with a Hillary sign and Hillary shirt, but overall, a very friendly Obama audience. It’s a university, what do you expect?

9:02: Ouch, nice contrast between Obama and Clinton. BUT how will she respond!??!?
9:03: She starts by going after his fliers and mailers… oh god, were only a minute into this debate and you can tell it’ll be interesting!
9:05: Drudge Report Garb. Clinton denies the photo in Drudge… ha ha ha… why the hell is she the only one who is speaking, LET THE MAN SPEAK!
9:06: Obama going on her substantively, but with poise. He looks calm, reserved, collected. Clinton looks kind of angry.
9:08: Are they debating mailers or health care?
9:09: Notice how she says “attack” Oh god, the mailing again.
9:11: Obama is keeping it substantive, not confronting the mailer issue. He’s going after her on specifics of health care. Clinton is trying to keep it on Obama sending out a misleading mailer.
9:12: Wow, she talks over Obama, stops Brian Williams. She sounds very authoritative.. will this work for her? Now she’s switched to substantive, but still powerful.
9:15: Obama discusses his mandates for children and contrasts his policy with Clinton. Still substantive. I wouldn’t call this fireworks, just a very heated policy debate. Ouch on the “Hillary” comment.
9:16: “Senator”… creepy Brian Williams. She keeps talking over Brian. You can tell she really wants to come out strong on this. This is just funny. Perhaps Brian should keep his nose out of this and let them talk.
9:17: A 16 minute discussion on health care, not a bad thing.
9:17: She’s complaining because she keeps getting the first question??? That gives her the chance to articulate the debate!!! And what!?! Bringing up SNL! Come on Hill, SNL made fun of Obama, they’ve made fun of you, get over it.
9:19: Cleveland Plain Dealer “erroneous attacks” on Clinton from Obama. We need to “fix” NAFTA, it’s not working. Did I mention that my husband passed it and it’s the reason that Ohioans have lost jobs?
9:21: Obama: good substantive answer. I think the theme so far: heated substantive debate. Perhaps that’s what Ohio needs
9:23: Clinton “we will opt out of NAFTA unless we renegotiate it.” Oh gosh, pander to those rust belt jobs that are lost, why don’t ya.
9:24: Attempt to attack Obama, Tim Russert interrupts. Ouch on the “much different” words…
9:25: Clinton: “I was very skeptical about it.” She’s tried to reduce the impact of NAFTA.
9:26: To Obama: you told farmers that you support NAFTA, what’s up with that? Brings up Chicago Tribune endorsement, I’m not clear on his NAFTA position yet.
9:30: Ouch on Tim Russert’s 5 million jobs comment.
9:31: In 2000, I thought Al Gore would be president. Hmm… politics much?
9:32: It dulled down for a few minutes, in rhetoric and tone.
9:33: Obama: “Sen. Clinton equates experience with longevity in Washington.” Makes the case for his judgment… basically, out of his stump speeches. You know he’s rehearsed this.
9:35: Williams: you passed on the “qualified” question on Sen. Obama. Clinton: Obama is to be commended for making a speech against the war, but he didn’t have responsibility, and he didn’t have to vote. Hmm… basically saying that he isn’t responsible, that he is all just words. And why is Obama just holding his hands across his face… probably thinking about how he’s gonna respond to this. Now Clinton attacks him on the Pakistan problem… says Obama “threated” to bomb Pakistan. Okay, obviously there are substantive differences here, but she just leveled like 5 different attacks in the last 3 minutes while integrating her “experience.” How is Obama going to go through all of that, point by point?
9:39: Hahahah, “bus in the ditch” response. Everyone here is responding positively to Obama’s response. Look at how calm and collected he is, responding to her point by point. Good job Obama. Also, notice how he doesn’t “umm” anymore. One year ago that was my biggest critique of his speaking style, he used “umm” to express a vocal collection of his thoughts.
9:40: Ouch on the “similar” to John McCain’s position’s response from Obama.
9:42: “IF Iraq goes to hell… what?” Clinton: Russert, you’re disillusion, what the heck… stop making hypotheticals. Interesting attempt at elder statesmanship. Classic traditional debate tatic, don’t accept the premise of the question or the hypothetical. That got Obama in trouble last summer.

Update II 9:46: Battery is going to die, I’ll be on later. If there is a commercial I’ll be able to find an outlet but it’s dark. So come back if there is a commercial, if not I’ll put up a post about the debate later tonight.

9:51: Okay, found an outlet! We turned on a light briefly, I found an outlet and I’m back!
9:51: Hillary Clinton video acting like an idiot.
9:52: “I’d give her points for delivery.” Clinton: ha ha ha ha (machine., robot…) Obama: “If Clinton thinks thats all talk…” ouch, ouch. Nice job using that against her. He probably was coached on that. You’d imagine his campaign staffers anticipated this coming up.
9:55: “What did you mean Sen. Clinton by that video?” “I was just having fun… trying to get health insurance will not be easy.” I want to gag. She’s bringing this up AGAIN. OH GOD, SHE’S TALKING ABOUT HER FAILED HEALTH CARE PLAN 15 YEARS AGO! STOP DOING THAT! No one wants to look to the past! The future, Hillary, the future!
9:56: ‘people are miserable and I am the only person to solve your problems.’ She says she voted against Cheney bill, tries to draw comparison with Obama by saying he voted for both.
9:57: Brian Williams, why the hell did you not let him respond and just show that damn video?
9:59: She said she voted for it but hoped it wouldn’t past… nice line with the “as a general rule, that doesn’t work.” Drew lots of laughs.
10:00: Discusses more substance, discusses how the only way to get thing done is by mobilizing the American people into paying attention to the government. Ties his rhetoric with his actions, but how will she respond! Ouch, some “ooohs!” here when he attacked her for special interests.
10:02: Obama: “when I am the nominee”…. uh… then changed “IF I’m the nominee…” Russert hammers him on public financing for campaigns. Will he accept public financing? (even though he’d lose millions?)
10:03: Nice reply, not gonna accept public funding BECAUSE we have so many individual donors. Nice reply.
10:04: Sen. Clinton: why won’t you release your tax return?
10:04: So many people are responding so generously… shameless plug for www.hillaryclinton.com. “I’ll release my tax returns by the general election…” I can’t get them out by next Tuesday, but I’ll work on it… come on, you have a huge staff, you can sooo easily do it. Clinton, you are so shady.
10:06: Russert: Sen. Obama: you must react to Mr. Faracan’s (sp) support. Obama: he expressed pride in an African American, I cannot censor him. “Good guy” comment got some laughs.
10:09: “What of your policies toward Israel, you wrote in your book….” okay, well formed question, it sounded like a snap from Russert. And it looks like Obama’s got to dance around the question. Obama emphasizing his Jewish ties and discusses the connections between Jews and Blacks. It’s a dance, but I think most people wouldn’t realize the question wasn’t answered.
10:11: Hillary: WAIT I HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE WITH DENYING A GROUP’S SUPPORT! I was willing to take that stand… that is such a bitchy attack.
10:12: Russert: are you rejecting Sen. Obama is standing on principle? Clinton: No…. Room erupts in laughter… she’s ridiculous, lets see Obama’s reply.
10:13: If Sen. Clinton feels the word “reject” is stronger than “denounce” than sure… Big laughter. Nice reply!

Commercial 2

10:18: Williams: Obama you’re the most liberal senator, what’s up? Obama, well the National Journal sucks. And let me talk about why I’m attracting more Republican and Independent votes than anyone else.
10:20: To Clinton: What do you think of Putin’s successor?
10:22: “Ohhh” in the room as Clinton can’t pronounce the Russian leader’s name
10:23: What if Russian invades Kosovo? Obama: US should state that’s unacceptable… we have a strong international structure, we don’t have to work in isolation. He’s demonstrating a good level of knowledge on US foreign policy in the Baltic states. I didn’t expect this.
10:25: What would you take back in terms of votes? Hillary: “I would not have voted for the Iraq war again”. That’s a big revelation. I wonder how that will change Hillary’s strategy on talking about the Iraq war here on in? She’s officially kind of apologized for it… she didn’t take it back when asked the same question in previous debates. It’s probably another parse.
10:26: Obama brings up Terri Shaivo… he shouldn’t have. Thats a potent issue for a general election campaign. The religious conservatives will use it against him. Probably not an issue in the primaries.
10:27: I am proud of Sen. Clinton. Nice job going out on the high road.
10:28: Obama: peoples’ expectations are so modest. We must change the way business is done in Washington. This kind of reminds me of the way Hillary went out in Texas
10:29: Obama: I think I’m better (as a nominee). Hillary is good… then he draws distinctions with John Mccain. All ready acting like a nominee. Again, the high ground.
10:30: Obama: I have a proven track record, gov’t transparency, accountability. Pretty much a standard closing.
10:31: Is there a fundamental question Sen. Obama must answer? Oh gosh will she go negative!?
10:31: Hillary: we both care about this country, it’s been an honor to campaign and I intend to do everything to win, but it’s been an honor to campaign.” Plays the women card… women clap in the room. “Either one of us will make history, but who will change the country?”
10:33: I didn’t give up with universal health care. (then why don’t we have it???) Will you help us?

All right, well good debate overall. I think Hillary came off as very authoritative. Great job for both of them.

Wow, did Hillary get angry with Obama and Edwards. It was fairly clear early on that she was upset over the Iowa result, but I really never expected her to lash out on the definition of change like that. Yeesh.

Anyway, here are my comments throughout the debate:

9:15: Gibson continually interrupts Obama as he is discussing how our shift in attention from Pakistan to Iraq has lead to turmoil in the region.
9:24: Richardson blah blah blah on nuclear terrorism, my mind wanders when he talks.
9:32: The issue is health care, why is Hillary attacking Obama on his vote to fund troops in Iraq?
9:34: Edwards: “forces of the status quo” Ouch for Hillary, just ouch.
9:37: Clinton gets pissed at Edwards, unbelievable. She’s talking about how her 35 years in service have “worked toward change.” I don’t think she understands the concept.
9:39: Richardson says “what’s wrong with experience?” Oh Bill, experience is your life. Maybe that’s why you’re polling at 5%.
9:41: Question over change, Edwards now struggling to redeem himself from looking too over the top. Or perhaps a brilliant strategy? I don’t know.
9:50: Clinton “that hurts my feelings.” Oh my gosh, she shows her human side! What’s with Obama’s “you’re likable enough” moment?
9:52: Clinton: “In 2000 we elected a president we wanted to have a beer with.” Wow, she just compared the front runner with Bush, that can’t be good. That whole image of change was just compared to Bush, I think that can back fire.
10:00: Clinton: “I am the agent of change” What??? No you’re not, if establishment had a name, she’d be named Hillary.
10:07: Edwards on the Patients Bill of Rights… nice stump speech incorporation.
10:09: Same with Obama, more stump speech.
10:15: Hillary’s “reality check” moment.
10:16: Obama should address Hillary’s accusation about his NH co-chair being a lobbyist. That’s probably a distortion of facts.
10:17: STOP BEING NOSTALGIC ABOUT THE CLINTON YEARS, we want to look to the future, not the past!
10:21: “Words inspire.” I love it Obama. “Words are power”.
10:29: Gibson asks question to Edwards, Hillary interrupts to talk about tax cuts.
10:32: Obama: “We have to get back to a bottom up economic growth system for middle class families.”
10:33: Richardson goes off topic, talks about education and art??
10:35: Hillary attacks Republicans. Tries to be above the fray when she’s been negative all night. Doesn’t answer Gibson’s question about your “worst debate moment which you’d want to take back.” I think everyone knows hers is the illegal immigrant licenses question. I wonder why she so humorously decided not to respond. Has she clarified her position?
10:37: Obama talks about the Republicans and ending their policies of fear. Good job, stay about the fray. Nice end.

Bill Richardson: Didn’t really stand out. Whenever I listen to him my mind wanders. He lacks enthusiasm, he lacks some energy and he’s too centric on his resume. He personifies the typical “experience” candidate which unfortunately, is not what were looking for right now.

John Edwards: Good decision sticking with Obama and attacking Clinton, though I thought in attacking Hillary he risked a backlash against himself. Overall, good night for John.

Barack Obama: I think he won tonight’s debate. He didn’t make any policy errors, he remained calm and had a few good lines. He didn’t gravitate to the extreme of being docile (like Richardson) or being over the top (like Edwards). He acted, well, presidential.

Hillary Clinton: She looked pissed. She had a moment which is going to be aired again and again and again. Voters will wonder whether she can handle stress under fire. She did have a few good moments where she showed her “human” side, but overall I don’t think those will be the clips that make the morning news.

Side note here: Just moments after the debate, Hillary Clinton’s people posted two videos that seemingly contradict one another on Obama’s single payer health system. I find it funny that Clinton vowed not to go negative in New Hampshire but they’re willing to try to dig up muck.

Hillary’s “Moment”:

According to Political Wire, here are what the pundits have said about tonight’s debate:

Chuck Todd: “The focus on this debate for so many in New Hampshire and the media was twofold — how would Obama handle being the frontrunner and how would Clinton handle be the challenger. Well, thanks to a subdued format, Obama seemed to pass his test with flying colors… I’m not sure David Axelrod could have scripted this debate better if he did it himself.”

Rick Klein: “Edwards may have turned in the strongest pure performance. But that will be overshadowed by a couple of stand-out Clinton moments. She let it all out tonight — the entire book on Obama. But she opened the book on herself with those flashes of anger. New Hampshire voters don’t like candidates who feel entitled to nominations — they get to decide, things are not foreordained and candidates are not inevitable. Sen. Clinton had some moments tonight she’ll want to take back.”

Chris Cilliza: “The challenge Clinton faced in tonight’s debate — and the challenge she faces in the New Hampshire primary more broadly — is that Edwards clearly believes his path to the nomination requires bouncing out Clinton to create a one on one race with Obama over who is the true change agent in the field.”

Marc Ambinder: “Iowa victor Obama had a target on his back, but he’s acquired a Kevlar vest as a front runner. Like Clinton tonight, he was unflappable.”

And if the politicos can’t convince you that Obama won last night than maybe Frank Lutz and his focus group can give us some insight: