Nationally ranked college debaters from the College of William/Mary graded the 5 Dem candidates

[FSogol]

Caught this on my drive home tonight

From NPR's All Things Considered

http://www.npr.org/2015/10/14/448697137/how-did-the-democrats-do-in-their-first-debate-college-debaters-weigh-in

Conclusion: Hands raised for O'Malley, 3, 6, 9, 13, it was unanimous, Martin O'Malley. "He stuck to the issues the most", the group said, "and he probably changed the most minds." " I don't think anyone who was not going to vote for Hillary before is voting for Hillary now. I think the same thing happened for Bernie. I think the only person who made any relative gains was Martin O'Malley."

(When I find the full transcript I'll post it)

x-posted from DU's O'MG

[JDPriestly]

1. From an academic perspective, they may be right, but from a political perspective, here is

why Bernie won.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251681349

Bernie reached hearts. That's why he won the focus groups and prevailed on the other measures of success in the debate. The Google searches, etc.

I liked O'Malley's point on climate change.

But then it took Bernie to say that climate change is the greatest threat facing America.

O'Malley is a great debater in the academic sense.

But Bernie is knows how to win elections.

[FSogol]

2. Completely disagree. No one won the debate.

From an earlier discussion by me:

Different candidates had different goals.

HRC had to show she was progressive and would stay to the left. She had to show that RW attacks are nothing more than RW attacks. She needed to keep Biden from sensing weakness and joining in. She succeeded and did a good job.

Sanders had to show non-supporters that he wasn't an angry, un-electable, commie from a tiny liberal State. He came off well and reassured much of the party base. He spoke well and his ideas resound with all Democrats.

O'Malley had to introduce himself to people who weren't aware of him, separate himself from Webb/Chafee, and show he had the progressive chops to be on the stage with Sanders and HRC. He also succeeded especially with the number of times he said, "I already enacted these policies in Maryland and his powerful closing statement."

All three did well. Who won? American did. No matter which Democrat is the winner in the end, America is better off with our party than they would be with the crappy, clownish candidates of the GOP.



AAR, winning the debate means nothing since the 1st debate is not the finish line. Next debate is in less than a month.