What really defines who won or lost the debate

[SandersDem]

First of all, we never really know who won or lost for a few days. (minimum of 3)

Even though there may be indicators, like google searches, added twitter followers, a huge uptick in campaign donations and talking heads all claiming this or that, half of who usually look pretty dumb a few days later...

The truth is in the polls.

There are also different definitions of victory. Here is my take on Victory for each candidate.

Clinton.

Did her debate performance convince Biden to stay out or jump in? If Biden jumps in, she faces a big bleed of support.
Was she able to appeal to the progressive base and frame her message to stop the drift of the party to Sanders? The test on this is whether or not her poll numbers stay steady, right where they are. We should see some polling by Friday, maybe.

Money and Activism: Did the debate garner more of both?

Sanders.

Did his debate performance serve as an introduction of the candidate to those who don't really know him? That is a yes, just by his being there.
Did he do a good job with the whole 'socialist' thing? Be honest here, it is too early to tell. If sanders sees a post debate momentum swing upward in the polls, this answer is really, "He made progress on that one"

Money and Activism: Did the debate garner more of both?

O'Malley.

Did his debate performance serve as an introduction of the candidate to those who don't really know him? That is a yes, just by his being there. He had the best closing statement of all of the candidates, it was pretty inspiring.

Will his poll numbers rise as well?

Money and Activism: Did the debate garner more of both?

Webb and Chaffee

Money and Activism: Did the debate garner more of both? I only put this here, because if he doesn't get more of both immediately, they will drop out soon.

If Hillary's poll numbers start declining any further, she did not win this debate, period.

If Sanders continues to surge in the polls and raises a great deal of money, as well as fire up or sway more voters, he won, period.

Bottom line is this....we don't know yet. We really don't.

Yeah and I hate the wait.

[Kalidurga]

1. I think 3 candidates benefitted from the debate.

Two will drop out soon. Mostly I think we won the debates last night. Issues that people care about were discussed that haven't been discussed for a long time really. From how many people watched I would say that they take issues seriously and that is what they care about and not some stupid thing like emails.

[SandersDem]

2. No disagreement here

The top three candidates may all have benefited, but we won't know instantly on everything here. That was my point.

[Flying Shoe]

3. The winner is in the eye of he beholder

It's hard for me not to say "of course Bernie won, he was the one telling the truth". But unfortunately, I see the debate differently than most of America because I'm a Bernie supporter. Hillary on the other hand, is great at these 10 second canned applause lines. No substance, but I'm afraid they're the type of thing that gets the average American up on their feet for a candidate. On top of that, Anderson Cooper quite literally works for the Clinton foundation. So I'd like to think that Bernie walks away better than before in light of this debate, but low blows like his honeymoon in Russia? And "Is anyone else here not a capitalist?" Those make me sick, and may do Bernie in in the end. So we shall see... at least he got his message out.

[SandersDem]

4. So of the threads I had started

Last night and this morning....NOW THIS! It's what I have been saying here first. Doubt my posts at your peril..

http://www.vox.com/2015/10/14/9530603/bernie-sanders-debate

Okay now for these...