Democratic Debate Open Thread

By: Lowell
Published On: 4/26/2007 7:42:15 PM

Feel free to discuss the ongoing Democratic debate in South Carolina.  You can listen live here.  Daily Kos has several open threads on the debate, including here and here.

[UPDATE 7:40 PM: They're now discussing the Virginia Tech shootings.  Hillary Clinton is talking about limiting access to people who shouldn't have guns. 

Richardson sends sincerest condolences, says he's a Westerner and that the Second Amendment is "precious in the West."  Richardson adds that those with mental illnesses shouldn't get a gun.  Also for instant background checks. 

Biden supports assault weapons ban, should not have let it lapse.  Should close gun show loophole.  Need to focus on mental illness.]


Comments



Hillary impresses, Obama stumbles, Gravel goes network. (humanfont - 4/26/2007 7:55:40 PM)
Hillary seems the most impressive to me right now.  I can't point to a single moment or response, but she seems very solid.  Obama seems like a lightweight.  I'm  rethinking my support for him.  He stumbled in his responses and didn't have the magic with him tonight.  Gravel was AWESOME. He's insane.  He's mad as hell and he won't take it anymore.


Seemed like a bad format for him. (Rob - 4/26/2007 9:10:09 PM)


Gravel was an embarassment, as was Kucinich (DanG - 4/26/2007 11:53:54 PM)
Hillary was dull.  Nothing special.  Obama looked very Presidential.  It was nothing he said or did, it's just something about him.  Like Bill Clinton, he commands a room naturally.


Gravel is like Homer Simpson's grandfather. (Lowell - 4/26/2007 8:07:09 PM)
Reminds me of Senator "Tubes," also from Alaska.


How's Richardson doing? (mkfox - 4/26/2007 8:09:18 PM)
I'm gonna root for him since Clark hasn't declared and isn't in this debate. I can understand his Second Amendment stance being a Westerner and governor of a rural, Western state, but public safety and security is more precious than a "right" the NRA invented by perversing the Constitution for lobbying and money.


Overall, I think Richardon's doing very well. (Lowell - 4/26/2007 8:10:56 PM)
Excellent comments on energy independence and global warming.


disagree (DanG - 4/26/2007 11:55:14 PM)
Disappointed by Richardson.  I had such high hopes, but he's way too in his head.  He is definitely intelligent, but he's severly lacking in the charisma and charm department.  To let you know how important those are, Obama's gotten into Second place on those alone.


Get Kucinich and Gravel outta here! (Lowell - 4/26/2007 8:14:02 PM)
n/t


Kucinich must LOVE Gravel (Chris Guy - 4/26/2007 10:59:44 PM)
He makes him look sane by comparison.


Dodd doesn't regret his vote for (Lowell - 4/26/2007 8:19:25 PM)
Chief Justice Roberts?  Huh?


Excellent answer by Obama on Iran (Lowell - 4/26/2007 8:27:55 PM)
and nuclear proliferation.


Glad to hear a dose of reality (Lowell - 4/26/2007 8:32:40 PM)
from Joe Biden on the need for force in situations like the Balkans...


Obama finished well (humanfont - 4/26/2007 8:34:55 PM)
I think Obama got better in the end.  Edwards was good.  Did we just see Biden lay the groundwork for endorsing Hillary?


Nobody loses ground, Richardson & Edwards gain. . . (buzzbolt - 4/26/2007 9:02:13 PM)
nt


Obama clear winner in MSNBC insta poll (Shawn - 4/26/2007 9:16:57 PM)
- Biden  20% positive 36% negative
- Clinton  34% positive 38% negative
- Dodd  8% positive 42% negative
- Edwards  38% positive 25% negative
- Gravel  12% positive 48% negative
- Kucinich  16% positive 44% negative
- Obama  47% positive 23% negative
- Richardson 21% positive 36% negative


Poor Dodd (Chris Guy - 4/26/2007 11:01:01 PM)
He was really bad though.


Chris Cillizza has some thoughts (Lowell - 4/26/2007 9:54:59 PM)
at The Fix. In short:

*"The top tier -- Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards -- did little to hurt themselves and, in Clinton's case, she may well have helped her cause by flashing her experience and the breadth of her knowledge on the issues."

*"Sen. Joe Biden, too, distinguished himself with his wit and humor. His one-word answer --"Yes" -- when asked whether he could be trusted to represent America on the world stage was the highlight of the night."

*"Former Sen. Mike Gravel was downright mean, repeatedly attacking his fellow candidates; he even referred to Biden as "arrogant" at one point. He made Kucinich seem like a teddy bear by comparison."



Doesn't matter what Chris thinks, polls say differently (DanG - 4/27/2007 12:05:55 AM)
MSNBC poll by viewers puts Hillary in third behind Obama and Edwards.  She did nothing to shift opinion of herself one way or the other.  Obama looked the most Presidential, and Edwards probably came off as the most likeable.  Hillary is going to need some more "Bill" (Clinton, not Richardson) time if she wants to win.  Obama's got momentum and money (40,000 donations since April first), and Edwards is starting to look good in those early states.


Free pass (novamiddleman - 4/27/2007 6:38:21 AM)
Makes sense that this "debate" was a free pass session.  (I expect that exact same thing from out guys next week)

At some point Hillary Edwards and Obama are going to have to start attacking each other

Then it will get interesting.  Until that point all of this basically means nothing



Let the spinning begin :-p (novamiddleman - 4/26/2007 10:24:07 PM)
Its our turn next week


I think it went about as expected (Chris Guy - 4/26/2007 11:06:20 PM)
My only question is, does Dodd even belong in the second tier. It's really just a 5 person race right now. Biden and Richardson are obviously way behind, but they'd be first tier candidates in 2004.