Opinionated Debate Wrap

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Tonight was the opening salvo in the fight for the large number of undecided voters in Iowa. I suspect that people who don't have a candidate yet are probably more to the left, because Hillary has a strong hold on moderate Dems, and Obama appeals to moderates as well.

CLINTON - Not a superb performance, but good enough, so she's the big winner because she did enough to flip the script to the "come-back" narrative. Will re-inforce her front-runner status and reassure any wavering in her best demographics.

KUCINICH - A big winner because he gave some left-leaning undecideds some passion to draw their vote. IMPEACH NOW!

BIDEN - Best night yet. Should be worth about 3 points in Iowa... maybe more. His mention of Impeachment is a big deal, coming from a 'mainstream' guy.

EDWARDS - Very mixed. Probably alienated some of his moderate support, but drew some left-leaning and economically distressed undecideds. Most people he pissed off probably weren't going to vote for him anyway. I think Edwards had some momentum in Iowa going into this, and this debate should help because there's a hunger from leadership from the left in this field. (Current undecideds are probably more progressives than moderates)

OBAMA - Steady performance, and much better than Edwards. I only have him this low because I think that the progressive vote is up for grabs, and Edwards and Kucinich (and even Biden) did a better job of grabbing it. Nothing that would threaten his #2 position. The immigration ramble will get play just as tit-for-tat with the Hillary thing. Some very good answers. On balance, no particular help or harm. (Probably had the most supporters in the audience. Good crowd response.)

DODD - I like Dodd, but he would have had to turn water into wine to get attention tonight.

RICHARDSON - Again, I like Richardson, but he was just weird tonight. Some fine answers, but too much weirdness & rambling.

[monmouth]

1. Biden was awesome, Kucinich was angry, Richardson pontificated,

Obama was okay I guess, Dodd was great for the little time he got, Edwards was condescending and Hillary phoned it in..

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. and Kucinich needed to be angry... that's exactly what his natural base wants

[Tejanocrat]

8. FUCK YEAH Dennis is angry! The question ought to be why aren't more people as angry as Dennis!

Great night for Dennis.

[gateley]

2. I share your opinions!

[nightrider767]

4. Nice post

I think Biden would have won if given equal time.

He comes across so well.

Hillary, Edwards and Borak,, much of the same.

Dennis was fun to watch. He was on his game.

[jillan]

5. I was disappointed in Obama tonite. I was hoping for more from him after his kickass performance at

the JJ Dinner.

Biden and Dodd were the winners to me.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

6. I guess I can't be objective about Dodd. I don't hear him, somehow

I don't have a thing against him, I just cannot focus when he's talking.

[monmouth]

7. Did you notice that Dodd looks like he's losing a lot of weight. Maybe

the haircut (very short on top)... I like him very much along with Biden, what a team they would make...

[PatSeg]

9. I think Richardson has the answers in his head, but

he can't articulate them very well. He comes across as very uncomfortable on stage.