Democrats 2016: After Months of Struggles, Clinton Helps Herself at Debate

[brooklynite]

Larry Sabato:

Clinton was a clear winner in Tuesday night’s debate and likely will be covered as one.

...snip...

Clinton’s deep experience in debates shone brightly. She was better than at any joint forum in her previous campaign. Clinton went into the debate the frontrunner and she came out exactly the same — probably strengthened in that role.

The former secretary of state’s debate night was thematically about President Obama and her gender. Time and time again, Clinton connected herself with Obama, cozying up to a politician who remains very popular among base Democrats. She even avoided criticizing Obama when asked if she would be “Obama’s third term,” saying she would want to build on Obama’s successes. It was an interesting twist for Clinton, who recently broke with the administration on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. But she more than any person on stage was resoundingly positive about the incumbent.

She also regularly brought up the history-making potential of her candidacy to perhaps become the first woman president. For example, when pressed on a question about Social Security, Clinton said she wanted to “enhance” the program to help poorer individuals, particularly single women who may have been widowed and had never had large salaries. Clinton’s gender was not as much of a central point of her 2008 campaign, perhaps in part because Obama’s candidacy had an even more dramatic historical dimension. But this time around, she’s proudly emphasizing it.

But what does a Political Scientist/University Professor know?

[HooptieWagon]

1. Those $2700/plate dinners sure were a struggle.

Poor Hillary.