Reviews are in for Senator Obama:

[babylonsister]

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CBYm

New York Times (Katharine Seelye): Mr. Obama continues to be on a roll.

TIME: Mark Halperin’s debate grades: Obama A- Mature and polished — a reassuring yet passionate presence. He let Obama be Obama by assuredly displaying to former doubters the natural style that could carry him to the nomination. Had some moments that made him seem big and presidential

MSNBC (Chuck Todd): … Perhaps no one benefitted more from this subdued format than Obama since he's the guy with the momentum.

CNN (Jessica Yellin): … It has been a winning issue for Obama, because he's the one that voters have received as the one who is most capable of being a true fresh outsider.

NBC (Andrea Mitchell): … Obama scored by saying: "Well, Hillary, I'm looking forward to having you as an advisor as well."

Fox News (Mort Kondracke): To the extent that winning a debate like this counts for something, if the focus group is right, then Obama did better than Hillary by a lot, and it's trouble for her.

Newsweek (Andrew Romano): …Obama displays one of his greatest gifts as a politician: that cool, ironic sense of humor.

TIME (Joe Klein): … Obama, clearly, is feeling it.

ABC News (Rick Klein): Obama with the line of the night!!

[TeamJordan23]

1. Obama did great today. nm

[Colobo]

2. Obama, Edwards and Biden are the winners.

[Adelante]

3. Big and presidential

Yeah.

[Cha]

4. This is good..how

did Edwards do? :)

[babylonsister]

6. He did great; there is a link around here about him-here it is:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3832827

[Cha]

12. Thanks!

My two faves did well!

[bobbolink]

7. Look at the focus group vids on the video thread.... Edwards won 'em over!

:thumbsup:

[Cha]

14. Thank you, bobolink!

I will check it out. :)

[Franc_Lee]

5. Obama, the guy just doesn't disappoint, if anything he keeps on surprising you with quick-wit &

intelligence.

[K Gardner]

8. I agree.. he had two absolutely impromptu and wonderful

moments in the debate today; the one with Biden and his quick retort to HRC.

Obviously I love "my guy", but I was very impressed with Obama and Edwards today as well. It's also the first time I've ever really heard Richardson speak on some issues and thought he did well, too.

[BeyondGeography]

9. He's starting to inhabit the role, as they say

It was his best performance yet, and, yes, he has had some very average debates. He was relaxed and confident today and kept his answers tight and bright. He won the soundbite award with his Hillary-as-advisor comment and showed class and graciousness with Biden.

[ClarkUSA]

10. Obama is a natural for a public television event versus, say, a CNN circus ring debate atmosphere

He shone with his patented combination of classy wit, kindness, gentle leadership and above all... wisdom and grace.

[creeksneakers2]

11. Those same pundits will trash Obama good

the moment they have Hillary out of the way.

[Colobo]

13. LOL! Give Obama credit... it's not hard...

[creeksneakers2]

15. Obama is running the smartest campaign

I'll give him credit for that. But 90% of his recent promotion to frontrunnership when he's still behind nationally by 19 points comes from pundits and journalists who know that a large segment of the audience will tune right in to see Hillary get clobbered.

Yeah, I'll give Obama credit but no more than he's earned.

[ripple]

16. Oh, it's earned all right

To blame Hillary's standing in Iowa on the pundits is ludicrous. One problem for her is that she didn't even an organized, on-the-ground campaign until a little over a month ago. Obama has run a well-organized grassroots campaign, including bringing in volunteers like myself from other states to knock on doors, make calls, and get his message out. Hillary's campaign veered sharply to catch up, but I believe it was already too late.

Of course, the caucus hasn't taken place, yet, so things can certainly change. At this point, though, Obama has run the better campaign- despite the very obvious smears from the media and pundits about his race and heritage. Not to mention, the Hillary campaign's recent smears have not played well at all with Iowa voters.

[creeksneakers2]

18. I didn't blame Hillary's standing in Iowa on pundits.

I was talking about press coverage that is portraying Obama as the new national front runner when in fact he's behind by 19 points NATIONALLY.

[ripple]

19. I haven't seen his national front runner status

I've only seen talk of how a win in Iowa might influence how he fares in other states. Sorry I misunderstood your comment.

For Hillary, Obama, or ANY candidate, getting the first win (and preferably, the second) will very effectively get the media and public wind behind their back. I think the reason the media is so focused on Obama right now is that they love a contest and until about a month ago, it wasn't looking like much of one.

They're doing the same thing with the republicans as we speak. It's a regular feeding frenzy for pundits. I honestly don't think it has anything to do with Hillary personally, they just love a good showdown.

[AX10]

20. Come the GE, it will happen.

[FrenchieCat]

21. They'll trash them all!

[AX10]

22. Hillary has already been trashed.

Obama is new to this. Clinton has been proven.

[BringBigDogBack]

17. w00t

[Diane R]

23. A solid and Presidential performance.