Nine Months Till NH, Democrats Debate

Last night, eight Democratic candidates met in the first debate of the already very long road to the 2008 presidential election. And the debate, which included Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Chris Dodd, and Joseph Biden, as well as former Senator John Edwards and Mike Gravel, Representative Dennis Kucinich, and New Mexico Bill Richardson, was more an opportunity to criticize President Bush's policies, versus each other. With eight candidates vying to make the most of the time, it was a somewhat underwhelming debate.

Naturally, most attention was on the Clinton and Obama, who have raised record and near-record amounts respectively during the first quarter. Newsday's Glenn Thrush thought Clinton's performance was "cool, confident" while Obama "seemed to sweat a bit." The Daily News' Michael Goodwin thought Obama won round one, though "barely." The NY Times noted that Obama seemed "reserved and cautious" was Clinton was "professorial and emphatic." NY Post readers found Clinton "presidential," Obama "timid" and Edwards impressive. The Huffington Post's Jeffrey Feldman thinks Edwards did best. The Politico finds that according to pundits, Clinton seemed to be the winner. The Sun found Clinton's talk about using force if the U.S. is attacked by terrorists hawkish and the Washington Post said that the debate showed the Democratic party has a lot of political heft.

And in the longshot sidenote, the writers at least got to mention Gravel and Kucinich as challenging the other candidates on their moderate stances on issues. The Times wrote that former Senator (and NYC cabdriver) Mike Gravel was a hit with crowd, "He served as a kind of cranky uncle in the solemn field of well-barbered, sound-bite practitioner." Cranky uncles do make debates more fun. And we imagine most everyone else was amazed yet again by Kucinich's really tall and 31-years-younger wife.

What did you think of the debate? If the only clip you've seen is Biden's one word response to the question, "Can you reassure voters in this country that you would have the discipline you would need on the world stage?" (Biden said "Yes"), you can watch the debate on MSNBC and here's a transcript from the NY Times.

Photographs by Scott Applewhite/AP

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Miscellaneous, News on April 27, 2007 12:19 PM

Comments [rss]

Chewy

Kucinich's wife looks like a Chewbacca profile after a nice Pantene rinse.

qwerty

My boy Obama was not as impressive as I thought he'd be. He came off as a typical politician. Not what I was expecting, but he's still better than most of the candidates.

Biden and Dodd did well IMO, proved that they were well-spoken and intelligent.

Clinton was just her usual self, saying what she needed to say. I swear to god she's a cyborg.

Edwards was eh. His final answer (moral leader) was honest, which was quite refreshing, but every other answer of his sounded like a poor man's version of Hilary's answers. Same typical politician's drivel, less eloquently stated.

Kucinich and Richardson are good guys, but neither are presidential material. They're just too naive.

Gravel didn't belong on the stage.

worst campaigners ever

Todd, I would much prefer the smoke filled room as well. Take the power away from the fringes of both parties.

impressive

Kucinich's wife is HOT!

todd

12... cant agree more. i am amazed that this is all they have to offer! Not that the other party has great offerings right now, but they could shift gears at any moment. maybe we should go back to the old smoke filled room days to pick a candidate.

worst campaigners ever

Great to see that the Democrats are doing everything they can to keep the GOP in the 2008 race.

un-proud of nitwits

Stac, I read that drivel. I want my time back. Forgive me if I discount the political analysis of handbag obsessed child. Do everyone a favor and stay out of the room while the adults are talking politics. I know your parents told you that you are a special little snowflake, but no-one cares.

Stac

As a female college student this is why I am un-proud to be an american h

ttp://collegecandy dot com/2007/04/27/american-pride-not-so-much/

second countdown

Watched the entire repeat of the debate at 1 am.

I thought the tall redhead was kucinich's daughter.

Obama sounded very unsure, almost hemming and hawwing.

Gravel stole the show with watchers but not with the press pundits.

I didn't understand the "hedgefun" question and don't even know why it was asked. So, edwards did some legal consulting with a hedgefund.

Explaining a hedgefund to a layman is as difficult as explaining what goes on on the trading floor.

Vanessa

p.s. there are a bunch of annnoying ads following the survey. simply press the "skip" button repeatedly)

tara

i am already getting disillusioned with obama... i always worry when politicians stick with their script and speak in very broad generalities. he is beginning to look like a politically smart, but empty suit. i hope i'm wrong, but i've been waiting to hear details from him for a long time and have been disappointed.

gary

htm, for a list of the candidates and their respective views, try the ExpertVoter website.

gary

gary

htm, try the ExpertVoter website. It gives you the candidate stands on key issues from their own mouths.

gary

Vanessa

Here is an interesting survey that you can take that will match your views will the views of the candidates.

Google: select smart election 2008

(I can't post a link)