8:00: And we're live at the debate, the 21st of the campaign but the first in six weeks. It's in a tiny, TINY room, holding only 400 people; I once saw an excellent presentation about the Declaration of Independence in that very room.
8:03: Obama hits the frustration thing head-on in his opening statement, talking about a man who lost his job in Latrobe. He doesn't use the word "bitter," though.
8:06: Already a commercial? Really?
8:08: Gibson asks about Mario Cuomo's suggestion that the two candidates agree to take on the other as running mate, whoever wins. Should be an interesting question to dodge- Obama says it's "too early," before changing the subject to John McCain. Hillary does the same... and changes the subject to Iraq and health care.
8:12: Here comes the "bitter" question. Obama recovers well, explaining the comments much better than he did the first time. Hillary soft-pedals it, going no further than "people could certainly be taken aback" by the comments.
8:16: Stephanopoulos asks Hillary point-blank whether Obama can beat John McCain- and, point-blank, she refuses to answer. When pressed, she says yes, but "I can do a better job." When asked the same thing, Obama doesn't hesitate to say "yes," before defending himself against the elitism and condescension charges.
8:20: In a canny move, Obama brings up the "baking cookies" brouhaha from 1992, accusing Hillary of taking the opposite side now.
8:22: And now the Wright questions! They better get to substantial stuff before the next commercial. Gibson asks about the incident a year ago when Wright was disinvited from an Obama event; what's the point of this, other than Russert-style gotcha?
8:29: Obama says that if Hillary is the nominee, there will be lots of video clips making the Fox and YouTube rounds about "other things," as opposed to Wright sermons if he wins. Like what? Embarrassing old hairstyles? "I did not have sexual relations with that woman"?
8:31: Oops... Obama accidentally says he's disowned Wright himself, as opposed to the comments, before catching himself. I'm guessing that's the most quoted moment of the night.
8:32: Shame on Hillary for dragging out Farrakhan and Hamas references in reference to Obama. When did she become a right-wing blogger?
8:33: And now Bosnia questions. Hillary says she was "not as accurate as I've been in the past." What about the future?
8:37: A videotaped question from a woman who says she's "not questioning Obama's patriotism"- but then questions his patriotism by asking why he doesn't wear the American flag. Good answer from Obama on flag pins, who rightly calls it a "manufactured issue."
8:41: A William Ayers question? Really? Did Little Green Footballs supply these questions?
8:44: A good line by Hillary, who suggests that the Republicans should simply apologize for the Bush years and not field a candidate. But Obama hits back, noting that President Clinton in fact pardoned two members of the Weather Underground.
8:46: It took almost 40 years, but the Weathermen are finally relavent again!
Posted by Stephen Silver at April 16, 2008 08:08 PM