Democratic Debate Report Card
Obama and Clinton scored big at a forum focused on America's minority communities. But the most memorable — and odd — performance of the night went to Joe Biden
Barack Obama
Grade: A-
Was poised, clear, and confident — perfectly comfortable in front of an audience of prominent black Americans. With national security playing a far smaller role than in past debates, he seemed less worried about being caught off guard or overwhelmed. Occasionally added some crowd-pleasing zest to his usual low-key, intellectual style. Still, Obama was less specific about policies than some of his rivals. Labeled the criminal justice system "not colorblind" in a carefully constructed answer. Had a humorous interaction with his wife, Michelle, who was sitting in the audience, at the expense of Joe Biden's awkward AIDS test commentary.
Hillary Clinton
Grade: A-
Another multi-candidate event down, another evening she can go to sleep with her front-runner status still intact. Every answer was solid, although she failed to command the stage as completely as on previous occasions. Prior debate success has removed every shred of nervousness, giving her leadership mien more sheen. Invoked the burnished Clinton years with Goldilocks precision — not too much, not too little. Delivered one of the night's most crowd-pleasing lines with a substantive point about the impact of race on the search for an AIDS cure. Nevertheless, there were flashes of her trademark rhetorical weakness — aiming for passion and coming off shrill — and she earned derisive press-room sniggers for a lame Paris Hilton joke.
John Edwards
Grade: B
Played his signature anti-poverty card early and often, but didn't trot out the "they haven't led, I will" mantra that he employed against Clinton and Obama in the last debate. Tried hard to imbue his stump speech with some fiery oomph, but never quite took control of the stage. Perspiration spots on his forehead were exceptionally distracting — at least to this observer....
***
Joe Biden
Grade: C
The Delaware Senator wanted so badly to do well, to stand out, to shake things up — but the format, which did not allow candidate interaction, made it impossible. Biden also seemed to be fighting a war between the best and worst versions of his political self. He kept shrill, rambling Demon Joe at bay for most of the event, and was one of the few candidates to stick to his allotted time. But a meandering essay about an AIDS test — culminating in what the audience seemed to think was a confession that he and Obama got tested together — brought Demon Joe to the surface and made him look ridiculous. (Never a good thing). He grew petulant when complaining about the lack of credit he's received for his longtime labors to soothe the crisis in Darfur — but voters prefer their candidates to look to future actions, not whine about credit or past efforts....
(NOTE: The remaining candidates and their grades are Dodd, C+; Richardson, C; Kucinich, C-; Gravel, Incomplete.)
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1638675,00.html