The Texas debate

Texas debate:

8:00 pm: Awkward opening. After being introduced, the two candidates don’t acknowledge each other. They wish other candidates were still in the race to walk on-stage, and act very excited to see the President of the University of Texas walk out to greet them.

8:07pm: During opening statement, Clinton first to mention Ann Richards.

8:11pm: Obama: “Washington is where good ideas go to die.” Is it just me or is his opening statement twice as long as hers?

8:13pm: First question to Clinton, about Castro. Will she sit down with new President of Cuba, Raul Castro? She would need to see evidence that changes were taking place before committing to a meeting.

8:16pm: Same question to Obama. He’d meet with Raul Castro. It is “important for us to not only talk to our friends, but to talk to our enemies.” Nice applause line.

8:20pm: HRC gets applause line with “arrogance and unilateralism of Bush Administration is over.”

8:22pm: John King question to Obama: How are you different than Senator Clinton on the economy? Decently populist in the answer, hits tax cuts for the wealthy, fairer trade, creating green economy, etc… I dig it. Says that the Democratic Party has been united on most of these issues. He says the only difference is that he can form a working coalition for change and can resist the special interests.

8:26pm: HRC mentions two states in her answer about the economy: Texas and Ohio. Probably coincidental. She brings up trade agreements that work vs. those that don’t – will he take a shot at her on NAFTA? Takes some time on housing crisis. Applause line on saying we’re going to end George Bush’s “war on science.”

8:30pm: The immigration question. HRC: Would consider stopping raids on undocumented immigrants. Also wants tougher, more secure borders. Obama: concerned about hate crimes against immigrants. Wants to fix legal immigration system.

So far, kind of a draw in the debate. Clinton might lead on points, as she often does in debates, but she hasn’t had the kind of moment she really needs to change the momentum. Obama is holding his own.

8:35pm: Follow-up on immigration to HRC and the border fence. She really seems content going after the “absurdity” of the Bush Administration. She’s nailed Bush a few times already for some quick applause, but doesn’t she actually have to beat Obama for the nomination first? And on the fence, something about “smart-fencing” or something. Got me.

8:40pm: Obama agrees with HRC on border fence. Guess he’s for that whole smart-fencing thing too?

8:42pm: To HRC – any downside to the U.S. becoming bi-lingual? HRC says that English is important, she encourages people to become bi-lingual and admits that she never learned another language (my mother recommends Rosetta Stone). Obama gives pretty similar answer, digresses to take a quick shot at standardized tests.

First commercial break. A remarkably fireworks-free debate. Also, I get that it’s Texas and all, but is the whole debate going to be on immigration, border fences, and the merits of speaking Spanish?

8:50pm: John King admits he’s having a “parallel universe” moment. Better keep that to yourself, John. He’s trying to get the candidates to engage each other – asks HRC if Obama is “all hat, no cattle.” She again turns it to a criticism of Bush. She doesn’t take the bait. Lists her accomplishments and softly points out differences. Obama: Gets an opportunity to talk about his own accomplishments. Talking a lot about lobbyist reform – couldn’t have anything to do with the McCain story, I’m sure.

It’s clear he was expecting her to go after him more tonight – he’s defending himself without provocation. He should be careful doing that… I’m starting to feel a bit sorry for her.

8:57pm: Questions Obama about similarities between his speeches and Deval Patrick’s speeches. Brings up Clinton allegation of plagiarism. He called allegation “silly,” and gets a ton of applause. He seems to have found his stride a bit now – jokingly admits that some of his speeches are “pretty good,” but also notes the substance in the speeches.

8:59pm: HRC: “If your campaign is going to be about words, they should be your words.” “Not change you can believe in, it’s change you can xerox.” She gets booed. Just blew any sympathy the audience had, and clearly felt uncomfortable delivering her prepared gotcha line. Reverts back to the anti-Bush stuff quickly to win back the audience.

9:03pm: Obama zeros in on the substance part of her remarks and goes into greater detail about his health care plan. “Philosophical difference” being whether or not to “force everybody” to purchase health care.

Second commercial break. Point to Obama this segment on Clinton’s flubbed line and his deft handling of the plagiarism thing.

9:11pm: Question to HRC – is Obama ready to be Commander in Chief? She punts, leaves it to the American people, and pivots back to health care.

9:13pm: CNN anchors have tried 3 times to move on from health care question, but Obama and Clinton keep responding to each other. I think HRC gets the small point on this, but not a knock-out blow at all.

9:15pm: Back to asking HRC about the Commander-in-Chief thing. Names a bunch of countries, talks about how prepared she is, and again takes a swipe at Bush. Is she using Bush as a stand-in for Obama? Are we supposed to fill in the blanks on that? Kind of a stretch.

9:17pm: Obama also thinks he’s ready to be Commander-in-Chief. Would’ve been a more note-worthy statement if he said he didn’t think he was ready. Mentions the judgment of a CiC, and says HRC was wrong to vote to go to war with Iraq. She mentioned a number of countries, but he seems content to just hammer home Iraq, and mix in the word judgment a few times. Quick count of uses of the word judgment in this answer: 4 (by my count).

9:21pm: Question prefaced on running against McCain and about the lack of support for the surge – is Iraq better off because of the surge? HRC parses – people forget the original purpose of the surge, etc… Yeah, more secure, but purpose is unfulfilled. Political progress still too slow.

9:24pm: Obama says it’s indisputable that violence has dipped since surge. But, “tactical victory imposed upon a strategic blunder.” Easier for a candidate always opposed to war to debate McCain on the issue. Now he’s talking about homeless veterans – a quick play for that still available Edwards endorsement? I could be wrong, but I don’t think Obama has mentioned Bush tonight – he has however talked about McCain a few times, but nothing about the whole lobbyist-McCain thing. Oops, spoke too soon: “McCain says he doesn’t know much about the economy, and judging from his support of Bush’s policies, he clearly doesn’t.”

Another commercial break. No points in this segment by my read.

9:31pm: Question to Obama about earmarks for Illinois, and why they have been undisclosed. Obama says it isn’t true and that all have been documented. Worked with Tom Coburn on “Google for Government” to catch any “bridges to nowhere” before they go through.

9:34pm: To HRC: Will McCain be more credibility than Clinton on wasteful spending? She feels comfortable taking on McCain on the fiscal irresponsibility of the Republican Party.

9:36pm: Question to HRC about superdelegates. No real answer. “We will have a nominee and will be united.” Obama: “I think it’s important that these contests count for something.” I’m guessing that’s the first time the word “superdelegate” has come up in any Presidential debate – ever.

9:38pm: Question to Obama about a moment of crisis. He doesn’t point to a single moment – talks a bit about biography, eludes to “mistakes” in past. Not a great answer – gives no extra insight about how he handles crisis. HRC: “Well… I think everyone here knows I’ve lived through some crises…” Good applause line. Then pivots to the crises average Americans experience every single day. Wasn’t that the prepared line they came up with in Primary Colors? No matter. Her answer wins. By a lot. Now says she is “honored” to be there with Barack Obama. Looks sincere. They shook hands. That could be one of the debate moments. Gets a sustained standing ovation.

Debate over. Obama pulled out her chair again (not from under her, you understand). HRC saved her best answer for last, but I think overall, didn’t change the momentum in the campaign.




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