CNN Democratic Debate

I think I should actually have titled this post 'Fight Night' because there was FIGHTING TALK! from the three Democratic candidates. That was fun to watch if you weren't aware that these three people were vying for the nomination for President - and how could you watch the debate and NOT know that? Particularly between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama things got very heated. The opposition research was firing back and forth - Clinton is a WalMart board member, Obama took money from a slum-lord, John Edwards is...shock...white! Thank God we didn't get to 'You're a Muslim!' 'You're a lesbian!' level of charges.

There's been talk in the past few days about whether Clinton or Obama would choose the other as their VP running mate. I've never thought it was a possibility, and after tonight it looks like I'm going to be right. They pounded each other out there - just go and watch the debate and see.

That's not to say that the debate wasn't good. There was a lot of discussion about substansive issues, and there was heated discussion about the best plans for America (which is significantly better than the heated discussion about who's lying - but not as good TV...).

And then there's John Edwards. Thank God for John. Good humoured, cut through the fighting between Clinton and Obama to make a number of eloquent speeches about poverty (but again with the Mill thing.) I wish he was able to have his shot for the presidency without Clinton and Obama in the race, because he's an excellent candidate for President if he had the opportunity to be heard. I want to talk more about Edwards in another post, because his influence in this race is about to become clearer and I think it's very interesting what role he may play (even though his nomination is severely in doubt.)

Who won this debate? John Edwards for sure. Obama and Clinton spent too long hacking at each other in the first half for them to come out on top. It was too messy between them and far too negative for me to award either the win. Though Clinton seemed more comfortable on the attack - and it seems to be obvious that no matter how much Obama may want to change the tone of politics it's too strong for even him to overcome. If that's the case, and this campaign will in many ways be politics as usual, then Clinton is a better player. As she explained, she's been putting up with the attacks for 16 years. Clinton is tougher than Obama and I think she'd be better able to handle the Republican attacks (though pehaps on the downside there would be *more* attacks with a Clinton nomination because of her divisive nature.)

John Edwards, I applaud you for your substance. I'm sorry you won't be the nominee.