Obama and Edwards Tag-Team Clinton in New Hampshire Debate

ABC News: Obama and Edwards Tag-Team Clinton
Narrowed Democratic Field Faces Off in First Debate Since Iowa's Stunning Results
By MARCUS BARAM
Jan. 5, 2008



Sen. Barack Obama got some unexpected help during a heated exchange with Sen. Hillary Clinton in tonight's debate, from former Sen. John Edwards, who snatched second place from Clinton in Iowa's caucus.

Comparing her to the "forces for status quo," Edwards said that Obama "believes deeply in change, and I believe deeply in change. Anytime you speak out for change, this is what happens. The forces for status quo are going to attack."

Edwards also defended Obama against Clinton's charge that Obama has switched his positions on health care and the Patriot Act. "To say that Barack Obama is having an argument with himself is not fair."

Clinton shot back, emphasizing, "Making change is not about what you believe or about making a speech, it's about working hard." Raising her voice, she said, "I want to make change, but I've already made change. I'm not running on a promise of change. But on 35 years of change … we don't need to raise false hopes of people in our country about what can be delivered."

And she almost shouted: "I think that having a first woman president is a huge change."...

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4091841

They want change that will benefit THEM, not change that will benefit Hillary's position in the history books.

I loved it when Edwards called her on her BS, saying that the status quo always lashes out against voices of change. Beautiful!

And of course HRC wouldn't want people feeling hope...she'd rather everybody felt fearful of something or someone new (like Obama or Edwards).

HRC made herself look like a short-tempered idiot. Only Bill Richardson was worse...I swear, he's getting as bad with his "I was the energy bla-bla-bla" as Ghouliani is with spouting "9/11"! And it got annoying real fast, the way Richardson kept pounding on the table. We were watching the debate, and started calling him "Thumper".

Both Edwards and Obama did very well...except at the very end, where Obama (like HRC) didn't fully answer the question of what they felt they had screwed up on, during previous debates. Aside from that, Obama seemed much livelier than usual.

Obama had no "Eureka!" moments whatsoever and looked petty with the "you're likable enough" comment. He said "uh" a lot and got completedly flumoxed on quite a few responses.

Edwards, on the other hand, was very passionate about his feelings and that looked good. He's not my guy but I think he did what he needed to do.

Hillary was fine. Not a single analyst has said she looked short-tempered.


Why I bother responding is beyond me. Must have some psychological problem.

http://thepage.time.com/2008/01/05/up-next/




Mark Halperin’s grades:

Obama A-
Edwards: B+
Clinton: B
Richardson: B-

Read Halperin’s full report cards here.


Story: http://thepage.time.com