Reply #13: Obama [View All]

[Abacus]

My post from last night:

I honestly thought Obama won. It looked to be swaying towards Hillary on the open with the health care discussion (despite the first question nonsense). Then Obama scored on NAFTA & foreign policy helping to shift the debate momentum. Hillary's parsing of "rejection" versus "denunciation" was awkward and a little petty, followed by a classically deflating response from Obama. She should know by now not to walk into those. Her strength is policy discussion; Obama makes her look silly when she starts getting into tit-for-tat. I thought it was a good finish for both, but overall Obama maintained the lead.

To add:

Hillary's attempt to take on a "fighter" identity -- as suggested by Gergen after CNN's debate -- was overall a good decision. Unforunately for her, I think it is too little, too late. The down side of the "fighter" identity is that the coincidence of the recent volley sent towards Obama makes causes her to be perceived as fighting her own party. Obama successfully pressed her on this when he spoke of waysided Democrats during her closed door meetings for her failed 90s health care initiative.