WP political blog, "The Fix": Iowa debate winners and losers

[DeepModem Mom]

WP political blog, "The Fix," by Chris Cillizza


Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton chat Sunday in Des Moines before the ABC-sponsored candidate debate. Obama fended off questions raised by Clinton and others about whether he has sufficient experience to be president. (Reuters)

....As always, the winners and losers listed below are one man's opinion and inherently subjective....

WINNERS

Barack Obama: We've been critical of Obama's debate performance in the past -- too ponderous, not sufficiently to the point. On Sunday Obama was able to show the thoughtfulness that his campaign believes distinguishes him from the rest of the field without seeming as scattered as he has in past debates. Obama was consistently on message, pushing the idea that he alone can change the way business is done in Washington and pushing back on attacks on his experience by pointing out that he was the only one of the frontrunners to oppose the war in Iraq from the start. Obama's answer on the decisive moment of his life -- the last question of the debate -- showed the candidate at his best. Rather than an entirely canned answer, Obama cited his transition from high school to college, noting that he was at times "an angry young man" who found what he had to give in that tough period of his life.

Bill Richardson: Richardson is never going to be as eloquent as Obama, as well-versed on issues as Clinton or as fiery as Edwards. But on Sunday he was better than he has been in previous debates, making sure he stayed in the center of the conversation on Iraq and that viewers knew he was alone among the field for calling for the removal of all American troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Richardson was similarly resolute when asked his position on the No Child Left Behind act: "Scrap it," he urged. "It is a disaster." What Richardson seems to have realized is that a political campaign is not the same as governing; people tend to respond positively to black-and-white pronouncements no matter how much gray area exists on an issue. Richardson also managed to come up with the line of the debate, noting that with Clinton you get experience and with Obama you get change. "With me you get both," Richardson said to laughter from the audience....

LOSERS

Joe Biden: Biden has proven his debating chops in the previous forums, but in yesterday's early morning debate (the debate was live at 8 a.m. in Iowa), he was more angry than we've seen him in the past. Biden's countenance ranged from dour to outright annoyed, and it didn't wear well. On the question of when in his public life he offered up less than the whole truth, Biden said he couldn't cite a single instance. Come on! He has been in the Senate since he was 30 years old.

Chris Dodd: Dodd has the elements to make a surprise showing in Iowa: quality staff at both the state and national levels and enough money to make his message heard. And yet, he just can't get a spark. Sunday's debate certainly didn't provide one, as it's hard to remember a single moment that involved the senator from Connecticut. That's a problem, especially since debates and forums featuring all of the candidates are likely to be fewer and farther between, thanks to Obama's pledge to compete in just eight (yes, eight!) more. Dodd needs to make a move in Iowa, but it's hard to see how at the moment....

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/08/iowa_democratic_debate_winners.html

[Colobo]

1. Obama was the winner indeed.