DEBATE COVERAGE

This is your place for complete debate coverage.  We will continue to update this post throughout the debate with analysis.

• 10:29: This just about does it.  Even if the debate does go overtime, I'm going to check out because I need some sleep before work tomorrow.  By the way, Edwards slammed Clinton for raising more money from the energy industry than any other candidate.  Sweet!  G-nite all!
• 10:28: This debate is pretty much over.  There was a slight verbal exchange over nuclear energy, since that is one of the top issues in the state of Nevada.
• 10:18: Obama is laying out his service plan.  Students would get $4,000 per year for college if they do service either in the military or in their community for ten hours each week.
• 10:11: Well that was an interesting spat between Edwards and Obama.  Both essentially agreed with one another that combat missions in Iraq would end.  Interesting how Hillary didn't reply, because she has refused to say that combat missions would end there.
• 10:02: Edwards and Clinton are both picking on Obama.
• 10:00: Edwards just unfairly smeared Obama, and said that the drug industry is giving him money.  Actually, it's employees that are giving him money, and he has not taken a dime of lobbyist money.
• 9:55: Nice Obama, nice!  He is absolutely dead-on with regard to the payroll tax, and how Warren Buffet pays less on the payroll tax as a percentage of his income than his secretary.
• 9:51: Obama was the only one who opposed both bankruptcy bills.  Not surprising there.
• 9:50: Hillary is race-bating like crazy now, bringing up that she knows Hispanics and African-Americans are suffering.
• 9:49: And now it looks like Hillary voted for that bill too.
• 9:47: Edwards admits that his 2001 vote on the bankruptcy bill was a bad one, reminiscent of his admission that his war vote was wrong as well.  Well whatever happened to being correct in the first place?
• 9:45: Nice, Obama!  There's no way to bring up Kuwait without talking about changing our sad energy policy.
• 9:41: Of course Hillary gets the first substantive question of the night.
• 9:36: Good answer from Obama about the right-wing smear attacks, which alleged that he is a Muslim and was sworn in on a Koran.
• 9:30: This debate is pathetic so far.  To address the GOP race for just a moment, this is a huge win in Michigan for Mitt Romney.  It keeps him in the race.  Three races down, three winners for the Republicans.
• 9:27: Almost 30 minutes into it and no major blows.  The only tense moment was the audience interruption.
• 9:23: Interesting interruption there.
• 9:22: An audience member yelled at Russert and Williams for asking "race-bating questions from you two."
• 9:17: Terrible questions.  These have nothing to do with issues.
• 9:16: Edwards is coming off strong when it comes to being personally dedicated to what he is fighting for.  He's really pushing.
• 9:13: Russert is bringing in Obama's drug use.
• 9:09: Here we go.  Now Russert is asking Obama whether the Clinton people were responsible for the smear.  Obama is backing down a bit.
• 9:07: Obama: "We can't solve these challenges unless we come together as a people," when referring to the recent division within the Democratic Party.
• 9:06: By sitting in the middle, Hillary looks like an authority figure.  She appears to be mending fences with Obama, using Martin Luther King Jr as a reference.
• 9:04: And it's on.  Hillary is sitting in the middle, Edwards on the right and Obama on the left.
• 9:03: Here we go!  Mitt Romney has won in Michigan, by 7%.  Now on to the debate.

Feel free to follow along and add your comments in the box below.

Comments

[demostrat]

Hey all, would anyone happen to know if msnbc will stream this debate? IF not, are there any other options to viewing online?

Thanks so much

[demostrat]

John Edwards needs to leave this race now!!!!!

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Edwards is definitely taking votes away from Obama.

[demostrat]

It's horrible... There is no way John Edwards has a chance in he** of even being vice president at this point. It's soooooooooooooooo frustrating.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Well-said. Obama, unlike Edwards, has a national campaign.

[Slade]

I think the question about the previous debate is another example of what is wrong with the covering of politics in this campaign. If we have learned nothing else from this campaign so far we need to at least see that it is different from any campaign we have seen before. This is not going to be decided by the modern media regardless of who they get excited about crowning from one week to the next.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Yeah, I hate to say it, but I agree with the audience member that was yelling about the race-bating questions. It's getting old. This campaign should be about substance. Obama is strictly substance -- the main reason why I support him. But the media is using tabloid-like tactics to turn politics into a soap opera, even though it should be serious because it pertains to serious issues that affect real people.

[demostrat]

Geez... Has John Edwards ever been right... I mean come on.

[demostrat]

Oh my!!!! Hillary has loaded her barrel tonight. WOW!!!!!!!

[Chief Editor: Todd]

lol How so? Are you referring to the Iraq question?

[demostrat]

Based on her "Will you join me Barack in supporting my bill." comment. She clearly tried to bait him in, but he wouldn't bite.

Uggggh! Sorry Todd, Edwards is just incredibly frustrating. I firmly believe that if he dropped out Obama would have clearly won NH and it would be a matter of days before the end of the Clinton era. But, alas ...........the agony continues.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

I second that about Edwards. It's his right to be in the race. Nontheless, he is handing this to Hillary unless he gets out.

[Tyler]

I'm officially leaving The Blue State, I'm sick of seeing this site look at things from such a narrow view, you need to openly look at every event that happens, not take sides before you hear the arguments. Your piling on Edwards because he is putting up a fight against your candidate on very important issues. Real issues, their are differences between them and there is nothing wrong with showing these distinctions and thats what this round of the MSNBC debate was for, for the candidates to find out and explore the other's opinions. I haven't seen a positive comment about either Clinton or Edwards on here, both candidates are viable candidates for the presidency and Obama isn't right on everything. Look at the big picture, not a narrow view, your as bad as the neocons if you do that.

[George]

Could Obama be a less effective debater and still get invited to the debates? Holy crap. He makes great points but never with the power that Edwards or Clinton. And he consistently bypasses opportunities to let Clinton have it.

It's as if he's playing for 2nd place. And it's pissing me off. Clinton already lived in the white house. End of story. This is not a country run by 2 families for God sake. Or is it?

[demostrat]

Relax Tyler............ Last time I checked this was an open thread. What I was sharing was "my" opinion based on a BROAD VIEW not a narrow one. If you decide to leave, so be it. However, I hope you stay so we can continue the discussion.

[George]

i saw 2 national polls today. one had clinton up 15%, the other had her up 1%. what is that?

Where is this race?

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Sorry to hear that, Tyler. I really thought of myself as narrow-minded. If anything, I've been labeled a softy. Maybe I am.

George, these national polls are all over the freakin place. What I'd focus on the most though is Nevada and South Carolina. Nevada is soooooo close! If Hillary wins Nevada, the Clinton camp will begin the spin campaign that claims South Carolina doesn't really mean anything because of the black vote.

If anything, I am so amazed by this primary season because it's not ending anytime soon -- for either party!! For the Republicans it might take until April (unless McCain wins both South Carolina and Florida -- then it will be over). For the Democrats, if Obama wins California, this thing could continue all the way to the convention.

[George]

Todd,
Huckabee will win SC. McCain will win Fla. Hopefully at least that mean Guiliani is out.

Obama is in a difficult spot. Winning California will be very very tough for him. He needs all the support he can get right now.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

California is the big enchilada. He will need to win that to stay in. And I hope McCain doesn't win the nomination, or the Democrats are toast. Major toast. If McCain wins South Carolina, watch the Washington establishment gravitate around him. And I don't know what the heck Giuliani is doing. He needs to fire his advisers.

[George]

i hate everything about guiliani and his campaign. You dont ignore 5 states. period. It could work out for him if he takes florida but that doesnt mean it's the right thing to do.