Status Quo Debate a Victory for Obama

[ariesgem]

JOHNSTON, IA - There must be something in the water. Or maybe it's just in the moderator's water. But today's Democratic debate in Iowa was another snoozer, providing little by way of either substance or fireworks.

As with yesterday's debate, the frontrunner in Iowa, Barack Obama, emerged from the final debate without suffering so much as a scratch. Clinton took one not-so-veiled shot at Obama in her "free statement," saying that some people "hope for change" while she would work hard for it, but that was as close as anyone came to laying a glove Obama.

Clinton had her moments this afternoon; a humanizing, optimistic answer on energy independence; and asking the moderator if she wanted a show of hands on global warming - a clever play off of Fred Thompson's refusal to do so at yesterday's debate.

But those good moments were offset by the bad: a clunky reference to the "Lugar-Lautenberg bill" that brought back memories of Al Gore's "Dingle-Norwood" moment from 2000; telling Iowa voters that their Senator was "working like a Trojan" to pass agriculture reform; and an arresting off screen cackle at the mention of Obama's reliance on former Clinton administration officials for foreign policy advice that raised the unfortunate specter of the Dean scream in 2004.

snip >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Overall, the takeaway from today's debate is that the status quo reigned, and as a result Barack Obama solidified his position as the leader of the field heading into the final three week stretch.

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/12/the_demzzzzz.html

[1corona4u]

1. I guess it depends on who you ask...

But Obama did have one moment that I appreciated very much....

[Drunken Irishman]

3. I liked his comment toward Biden, too. I think Obama did well, didn't screw up or hurt himself.

When you're surging in the polls, status quo debates are always the best for your candidate. They worked well for Clinton early and will work for Obama here. If he is leading in Iowa, as some polls have indicated, he doesn't need to say or do anything to get that extra bump. Just play it cautious and that's exactly how he did it. In all, tho, that was the whole debate, no one really risked much.

[Nailzberg]

4. You're guy was really impressive.

Biden has really been impressing me the last month or two. He's not my favorite, but he's one of the few I'm trying to research more about right now, cause I've really liked what I've heard.

[Bitwit1234]

2. Did they televise him walking on water.