And The Winner is?

Posted: Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:38 PM by Chuck Todd

From NBC's Chuck Todd
This has been a hard debate to evaluate; it's part pep rally and it's part debate. There were some GREAT moments that we desperately wanted to keep going, like everyone vs. Obama and Biden vs. Edwards.

VIDEO: Watch the entire Democratic forum

If this debate is remembered for anything, it will be for the moment that Joe Biden turned into Hillary Clinton's surrogate. He went after Obama on foreign policy and targeted Edwards on how sincere his labor stances are.

In fact, Dodd seemed to also take part in the attacks on Obama (less so on Edwards). But clearly, the old guard of Washington are not taking kindly to either Obama and Edwards. The problem for the two chief Clinton challengers, though, is that they are fighting to be the same person, the anti-Hillary. And Clinton, now, has a lot of supporters on stage with her, including Dodd and Biden. It's a fascinating dynamic that I think is developing in this primary. But how long can Edwards and Obama be allies and how comfortable will Dodd and Biden be carrying Clinton's water?

Let's get to some candidate-by-candidate thoughts:

-- Clinton had a good night, if only because she didn't have to level the attacks on Obama and Edwards; she got to stay above the fray.
-- Obama clearly knew what he wanted to say tonight and stayed on his message; But he seemed unsure if he wanted to be a cheerleader on stage or a debater. And, frankly, blame the audience, every time a debate started to break out, the crowd got in the way.
-- Edwards tried to be aggressive tonight and he's definitely the angry populist but, wow, he seems to have drawn the ire of more of his foes tonight than even Obama.
-- Biden does crowds well; I bet if the members believed he could get the nomination, they'd be more enthusiastic.
-- Dodd was hot tonight as well... but he yells a bit too much for TV... surprisingly more so than Biden.
-- Richardson is going to be the under-the-radar candidate; it's obvious; he's not getting involved in the bashing of Obama, Edwards and Clinton and that could pay dividends in Iowa.
-- Kucinich: Easily his best debate; Having no Gravel helped him big time.

I'll have more after the spin room dance.

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Comments

Best. Debate. Ever.

A. Y. Allgood (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:47 PM)

Kucinich appeared to be the most authentic, real and honest candidate. He clearly stated the positions I most support. He came across as articulate, personable, witty and reasonable. For the first time, I think he may have what it takes to win. I will now actively support him AND send money. I have been very undecided up to this point....even open to considering a 3rd party if one appeared.

Mary Downs (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:48 PM)

Obama was really good! I think he killed Hillary on the Iraq/Pakistan issue!

Stephanie, Nashville, Tn (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:49 PM)

Who won? KEITH!!!

Incredible job, Buddy~

PS-The candidates weren't so bad, either.

Yancey (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:49 PM)

How many debates are we going to have? Is this the new American Idol or Survivor? Who is voted off next? If you ask me, this is a HUGE circle jerk.

Michael, Charlotte, NC (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:51 PM)

I am tired of the opinions of the networks and political commentaries saying who won. Why not have create a link on the network pages and let the viewers vote! I know our votes really do not determine who win but at the same time why do ex-politicians opinions count more than OUR votes?

Chris Clabough, Hendersonville, TN (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:51 PM)

Hillary and Obama didn't even come close to winning. Kucinich and Edwards in my Blue Collar view, were at the top. I guess that is why I am just blue collar.

William Klein, North East, PA (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:51 PM)

Edwards Edwards Edwards! I don't know what people are talking about he did an incredible job and had a commanding presence there!

stephenferreira@msn.com (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:52 PM)

The Democratic Party won, hands down ! The Republican Party is over. Thanks G.W. !

American People for honesty in Goverment (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:53 PM)

Kucinich just won my vote!

Jon (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:53 PM)

Senator Obama won!! He was great on Pakistan & the Barry Bonds question. I loved it when the audience booed when the questions weren't answered & they tried to go off on another subject. This was Hillary's worst debate. She should stop yelling.

Carolyn Grace (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:54 PM)

In my opinion, the clear winner was Barack - esp. in the exchange w/Hillary and her silly comment about Pakistan and not discussing hypotheticals. How are we supposed to gauge the candidates about matters of life and death if they refuse to talk about them? The real question of this election, I think, is whether or not the American people want to return to the past (Clinton) or move into the future (Barack).

Jeffrey G., Oreland, PA (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:54 PM)

I am amazed at the coverage of these things. Chris Matthews came on immediately after talking about how great Hillary was - were we watching the same debate? Dodd and Hillary got crushed by Obama on the Pakistan issue. Hillary was shrill (more than usual) and frankly out of step. I thought Obama was the clear victor.

David, Franklin, KY (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:54 PM)

Hillary commanded the stage, a real "leader" for America. hillaryclinton.com

Mary Wells, Fargo ,N.D. (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:55 PM)

Way to Go Barack...did people hear Hillary get booed for saying things should be kept secret.

he stood toe to toe with Ms Foreign policy and won. She didn't want to say it but she did if you have the info you have to act

Doris,,SS (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:57 PM)

Good by Republican Party, there is a new team in town. The real leaders are Democratic.

Bill Wentworth, Athens, Ga. (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:57 PM)

great debate. they showed fundamental differences on policy yet refrained from personal attacks. i think this debate brought the campaign to the next level and turned up the heat.

mike, des moines (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 8:58 PM)

Hillary remains on top of her game..she is the smartest of them all and has the most common sense...she won this debate...

teresa,richmond,ky. (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:01 PM)

Dennis Kucinich won this debate, hands down, like he'll do every time when he's allowed equal time to talk (compared with the big media/coporate campaign donation takers). This candidate is the only candidate that really represents the American people, by looking out for them and standing with them on all of the issues. Not that the standard MSNBC/CNN/FOX spin machine will ever ever tell us that. They like things the way they are - crappy for us, great for big money, eventual collapse of America. Come on, let's do this, let's support a real, honest, intelligent, American presidential candiate like Kucinich. Don't be scared off by the machine. Don't let them tell you that Democracy has been cancelled and your only choices in the Democratic primary are three persons they've picked from the right-side of a currently gutless party. TELL THEM, this is YOUR COUNTRY and Kucinich is YOUR CANDIDATE. He stands for labor, he stands for progress, he stands for peace and longevity of this country and of this planet. Please stand with me. Check out: http://www.kucinich.us

Tracy, Norwood, NJ (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:01 PM)

Kucinich was the star !

jean riley (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:01 PM)

If the Democrats ,want to win the election they need to sick Hillary on them. She is definitly ready for the task.

Francis G. Morris, Wilksbury, Pa. (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:02 PM)

I think Obama hurt himself. He tried to change his original comments which were extremely naive. The question for him would be "If you went into Pakistan and it destabilized that nuclear nation and the al qaeda types take over, what would you do then?

No, no..don't ask...he'd probably answer and get us into more trouble -- although he waffled on everything including the Bond question.

We can't risk Obama. He says whatever springs to his mind -- but has no base to make the changes we need.

freckles (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:02 PM)

Hillary one hands down, kuichnci had a nice proformence but cant match up to Hillary Clinton. ~ Hillaryclinton.com & gohillary08.org

Brian Molesky, East Meadow, New york (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:02 PM)

Hillary who???? Obama won this debate hands down. However, I am also tired of the commentator's dictating who wins the debates. They are usually wrong. Chris Mathrews is obviously a Hillary fan.

Phyllis, Dallas, TX (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:03 PM)

Finally -- the 'old guard' is showing their stripes. Politics as usual. The most telling statement was Clinton saying candidates should not say what they think to the public! Was that a Freudian slip? We are tired of the Washington insiders spouting the same lines they have spouted for years....and keeping the truth from the American people!

LFB, Corona, CA (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:04 PM)

You know Chuck, you're getting close to the everyday person's take on this primary...

I've just been listening to Mathews, Richardson, Robinson, and Brown talking heads and they completely missed the basis of the everyone -v- Obama contest that this is about inside and outside the beltway...

You talk on the Mathews show all the time...give him a clue that what the nation is rebelling against is the whole *you shouldn't always say what you're thinking* schtick...it implies that the populace is not thinking and only the wise ones in DC should speak of what's in front of the nation and should most assuredly do so only in hussed whispers.

The entire world knows where Al Queda is...the entire world knows AQ is who hit us on 9/11...the entire world knows that the US has secret services running black ops...the entire world knows Iraq was and continues to be the worst WORLD political and strategic disaster ever...the entire world knows that our foreign policy, for the most part, is based on oil. DC is not kidding anyone.

Our DC insiders have handed us what we have now...how about trying some new, innovative, thoughtful approaches...the first being maybe speaking honestly and openly to our citizenry and the world in general for a change...

Couldn't likely get much worse than the status quo, could it?

G Davis (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:05 PM)

Very Good debate. But I don't see how bashing each other determines a winner!

Delroy, Jersey City, New Jersey (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:05 PM)

Barack was on it tonight

Kisha St.Louis, Mo (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:05 PM)

KUCINICH!! Easily the best candidate. That's why the media ignores him. He's honest, smart, funny, hasn't sold out to corporations AND he doesn't want to bomb any countries!!

Mark, Boulder, CO (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:06 PM)

Hilary Clinton is the candidate, they all want to say what we want to hear but as an experienced person, she measures what needs to be said. very intelligent lady.

Anibal Litchfield Park AZ (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:06 PM)

I'm trying to figure out how Biden was Clinton's surrogate, when he defended Obama's statements on Pakistan as already public U.S. policy. Chuck...?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:06 PM)

Easily an Edward victory, but I think Kucinich got the best line with his "digging to China" comment. Hillary shot herself in the foot in front what should be her base yet again when she criticized Obama for saying what's on his mind and suggesting that a President maybe shouldn't do that.

Don, Oklahoma City (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:07 PM)

The winner is America, with real good choices for President. The best selection in candidates running for office in 50 years!

Alice O'Reilly, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:07 PM)

Kucinich impressed the hell out of me. Health care, check. Iraq, check. Workers' rights, check. Straight answers, check. Give Sea Biscuit a chance. Let the little guy speak for the little guys.

Douglas, Indiana (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:10 PM)

Overall it was a good debate.
Speaking of debates, can someone tell my why the healthcare bill, HR 676, has been stuck in committee since January and not brought forward for debate?

Mair, Baltimore, MD (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:10 PM)

And the winners are:
1. Keith
2. Kucinich
3. Obama

wizinit (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:11 PM)

OBAMA WON BIG!! When did Biden and Dodd start running for a vice presidential bid for Hillary? They took on Obama and failed. Hillary gave the same Washington/Corporate lobbyists answers and will of course have the media saying how polished she was. That's crap. People do not drink the Hillary kool-aid!! We have a chance to have REAL CHANGE!!! Something we have been begging for for quite some time. Let's not waste it. Hillary said she would take on the Republicans....well...why hasn't she? She keeps saying.."Look at my record", well everyone please seriously take a look!!! To you ladies out there who are just jazzed about the chance to say you got a woman President...you gotta look closer! This is the 21st century folks...Hillary won't be you're last chance. Don't send this country backwards!!! OBAMA '08!!!!

Steven, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:11 PM)

I agree with the previuos comment about Clinton winning. Not in the debate that I saw. I think that John Edwards is the only candidate that truly wants healthcare for all and more power for the middle class. I say Edwards walks away on top!

Brent, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:12 PM)

I truley believe Hillary Clinton won the debate, she was the most "cute" candidate.

Mark Miller (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:12 PM)

Once again, Hillary Clinton was by far the most presidential--intelligent, tough, mature, passionate. Every time you watch them together, the choice becomes clearer--Clinton 08

Brooks, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:12 PM)

Dennis is winning america while the networks concentrate on the top 2. Thank you MSNBC for the debate , but try to comment on more than Hillary and Obama.
I am contributing to Kucinich online tonight.

Mike Green Vail Colorado (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:12 PM)

Obama won hands down!
Hilary bombed. She talked down to the people, big mistake!
The talking heads are all obviously pushing for Hilary. No mention of her being booed while Obama was being cheered. Americans have had enough of this. We won't be led like sheep anymore!

Kathy, Riverview, FL (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:13 PM)

Hey Chuck since you want to do quotes ( in you other blog) how about quoting Obama correctly for a change. He said "biggest foreign policy disaster in this generation", not as you said "biggest foreign policy". Why is it that you guys just can't quote him correctly?

Lyn, MD (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:15 PM)

Kucinich!!!!!!!! He forgot to mention that he also introduced a bill to congress, HR333, to impeach V.P. Dick for high crimes! Now come on, who disagrees with that??
Billary forgot to mention to the AFL-CIO that she spent the 80's working for the Walmart Corp. I wonder why??

Mark, Boulder, CO (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:15 PM)

The clear looser: designers of that dismal set! It made the candidates (in the TS) look like some sort of blushing bride. So what's with the predominately red backdrop? For all the time spent by advance staff and consultants on measuring podium height and such for their candidates who allowed them to stand against a backdrop so red as to make most of them look like they were running for politburo…?

Keith looked good, nach.

TG from Washington DC (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:16 PM)

Obama and Kucinich won the debate.

Clinton and Biden hurt their campaigns with non-answers and offensive moments that had the audience booing.

This is the honest analysis of anyone who was remotely paying attention.

Shadow, Hamden, CT (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:16 PM)

How is candidates disagreeing, arguing about policy differences *bashing* each other, or dirty politics, or not elevating the level of politics?

The nation needs to hear how these candidates differ...how the heck else are we going to choose who to vote for?

I'm sick of pundits, in particularly Hillary cheerleaders, yakking on about this...is she above reproach? Is she inevitable 5 months before ANY votes are cast? Is she the queen?

We are very fortunate to have as good a crop as we do to choose from...but choose we must, which means we MUST be allowed to hear these candidates DEBATE their takes on all issues...

So please...no more shushing...I love it that they're going at the issues hard but have left the Rovarian cheap, personal shots out of it.

Except Wolfson, perhaps...what a tool...

G Davis (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:18 PM)

All the candidates are great. Kucinich needs to get more accolades from the news media. Clinton and Obama did well, but the man with all the right answers was Dennis Kucinich

Bill Taggard, Las Cruces, New Mexico (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:18 PM)

Sea Biscuit!!!
http://www.dennis4president.com/

Mark, Boulder, CO (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:20 PM)

If Americans, no matter what part affiliation approach this logically. Logically being a. What does the candidate say he/she will do? b. How are they funded? Muy importante! c. There take on the Iraq issue. d. HEALTHCARE! These four key points.
If you can remove yourself from self interests and party affiliation and view these four key points in the view of each candidate...Democratic or Republican
you will come up with two individualts. Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. The rest are distractions..IF
you apply the four key points. I did and it switched whom I am going to vote for. Try it, it is not easy IF you apply honesty and fairness to it.

Little Johnny, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Tuesday, August 07, 2007 9:21 PM)

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