Democrats debate and the gloves are off

If they were ever on to begin with. I missed the very beginning of the debate, and both Obama and Clinton were going at it when I tuned in. Regardless of what you might think of the dust up, I think it was good to get some of this out on the table.

Obama was asked about his comments on Ronald Reagan, and Republicans being the "party of ideas." And he also was asked about his many "present" votes as an Illinois State Senator. I'm not sure that he resolved the concerns that some Democrats have. He said tonight that he didn't say he agreed with the Republican ideas, but that they simply had ideas. If that is the case, then why didn't he make that more clear at the time?

I think he missed an opportunity to acknowledge how his comments might have been misunderstood. And I still maintain that it was a really dumb thing for him to say in what is clearly a very tight contest. If you watch the video it appears that he was, to an extent, trying to dis President Clinton. Maybe in response to Bill Clinton's comments during the campaign.

He also didn't seem to really answer the question from Edwards about why he voted "present" so often. I asked friends in IL-NOW about this, and they said the reason they did not endorse Obama was because some of the issues he took a pass on involved reproductive health and LGBT civil rights. They said that Obama represented a very liberal district, and would not have suffered any political consequence for supporting women, or lesbians and gays.

Obama, clearly taking a shot an Sen. Clinton, said that he didn't know who he was running against -- Bill or Hillary. Clinton responded that they both have spouses that are strongly supporting them, and that it was a good thing.

Clearly, I support Sen. Clinton. My response to Obama's charge is that if he can't stand up to criticism from Bill Clinton, how in the heck does he expect to be able to withstand attacks from the Republican smear machine, should he become the nominee?

John Edwards had to struggle to stay in the debate tonight, but some are suggesting that the dust up between Obama and Clinton might have helped him. I think both Edwards and Clinton scored points in the health care discussion. Clinton drew applause when she said, rightfully, that you must start out asking for all that you want and not with a plan that leaves 15 million people out from the beginning.

At this point I don't have an idea who will win in South Carolina. Given the number of African American voters it would seem to trend toward Sen. Obama. John Edwards did well in SC in the last primary. And I don't think you can ever count Sen. Clinton out.