Which leading candidate won the debate?

[Onlooker]

I'm just curious to see who people thought won and if there's any difference between watching it on tv (where people said Hillary looked tired) and watching it on the Internet (where you can't tell what people really look like).

[BOSSHOG]

1. I'm still in awe of alan keyes performance yesterday

Mean, angry, nasty, ain't gonna take it anymore. Wants to know why he's seemingly ignored. Yo Go Alan.

[sandnsea]

5. Rachel Maddow said he won

And then DU wondered why Matthews teased her about trying to get her real opinion out of her.

[redqueen]

12. Dammit... now I'm gettin pissed off again.

Kucinich should have been there.

:grr:

[Adelante]

2. I saw it on TV, but I thought they all won nt

[1corona4u]

3. WHAT THE FUCK?

Why throw up a poll, if you don't include everyone that was there!?!

Jesus.

[krkaufman]

10. Agreed. WTF?!? "Leading" according to whom? And who cares?

How about asking who actually did well in the debate, rather than undemocratically limiting the poll?

I *did* think Biden did well; Obama poorly; Edwards well; Dodd poorly; Richardson & Clinton fair. Really, though, none of the candidates came forward with visionary leadership; the responses were far too tactical and details-oriented, rather than championing a particular vision for the way forward.

[CTyankee]

4. They were all pretty damned good!

As usual, HRC came out with the best technical answers and I liked her response to what she would do first thing after being elected. I also thought her idea of having NY state farmers come to Iowa and talk about her to Iowa farmers is brilliant. She's good on farm issues,surprisingly.

My heart dearly loves Edwards and I see where CNN pronounced him the winner today. I wish he wouldn't blink so much, it is very distracting, but he was his usual self assured, passionate self. If I had to vote in a primary today, he would get my vote.

BUT, I also loved Joe Biden! He showed an emotional side I haven't seen before, which was great, added to his technical expertise on statecraft. I know he'd be great on everything else, too. I trust him and believe in him.

I liked Chris Dodd's reference to his Peace Corps/military service. This is because I think the next president needs to have that kind of service. It's kind of JFK thing with me. Plus, he is so good on education.

I probably liked Richardson least, but that isn't bad because I like them all. He seems so lackluster to me and I think a president has to have some pizazz.

Barack Obama disappointed me in his lack of depth in answering some of the first questions. He says all the right things, but he is too general. I think he could be a very inspiring figure but my worry is that his lack of experience would tie his presidency up in knots and he wouldn't be able to get anything done because of it. That could lead to a disaster for the Dem party and I would hate to see that happen.

But having said the above, any one of these candidates would be so far above what we have come to expect, we have an "embarrassment of riches" indeed!

[1corona4u]

6. Joe wasn't emotional...

he's sick. He was a bit somber today, but he said he has a cold, and if you noticed, he kept his comments short, and barely had a voice.

[CTyankee]

7. His reference to thinking back to the bad times in his life was very touching to me.

I know he had a cold, but the moment he started talking about the bad thing that had happened (I don't know what it was) I was taken by his sincerity and humanity. Whatever, I really like the guy and I think he would be a superior President.

[1corona4u]

9. Oh, yeah, that was sad ...

He was probably thinking about his wife and daughter being killed, many years ago. Then, the fact that he had 2 aneurysms in his brain, and now, his son has to go to Iraq/Afgh. He has had some real devastating things happen to him in his life. Let's hope Beau, his son, makes it back home safe.

He would be the best president ever, I think anyway. :-)

[FrenchieCat]

11. I agree....

I knew what he was referring to (the tragedy with his wife and baby killed in a car accident in 1972)....but what I respect the most about that moment is that he decided NOT to get specific. In other words, he decided not to make attempts for the sympathy vote. That was truly remarkable that he didn't take that opportunity....because he certainly could have.


:thumbsup:

[CTyankee]

14. Oh Frenchie, you are so right! He deliberately avoided stating that.

Now that I know the particulars, I am even more impressed with him! What a difficult thing for him to confront, there right in the middle of a debate thing! I feel so sorry for him, and like you I admire him for not exploiting it.

[MadBadger]

8. No, he was emotional

When talking about his New year's resolution. He seemed to be referring to his wife and child that died.

[CTyankee]

13. How awful for him! It was a very real, human moment.. I felt terrible for him.

And I now think about John Edwards, because he suffered the loss of a son in a car accident. When I read Elizabeth Edwards book "Amazing Graces" I literally had to stop reading during two chapters because I was crying too hard and just couldn't continue!

I appreciate the fact that we have these candidates who have sustained such losses in their lives. Their experiences carry such a huge freight of compassion and feeling for people!

It is wonderful to have such great people in the Democratic Party!

[Bucky]

15. If only he'd had laryngitis, he'd have that nomination sewn up by now.

I wish.