NPR debate winners (Edwards, Biden, Dodd) and losers (Clinton and Gravel)

[DeepModem Mom]

WP political blog, "The Fix," by Chris Cillizza
NPR's Democratic Debate: Winners and Losers

Seven of the eight Democratic presidential candidates gathered in Des Moines this afternoon for a radio debate sponsored by National Public Radio. The debate focused exclusively on three issues: Iran (and the echoes of Iraq), China and immigration. The format was aimed at fostering in-depth discussion among the candidates and largely succeeded....As always, this is one man's opinion....

WINNERS

John Edwards: In the debates to date, Edwards has wavered between two personas: effective critic and angry outsider. At times Edwards' strident critique against "the establishment" sizzles with populist brio. But, it can also occasionally come across as cranky and complaining -- not exactly the two leading traits that people want in a president. In today's debate, Edwards took on the effective critic persona. He sought to politely highlight what he called real divides between himself and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) on Iran, and largely kept his focus on the mistakes made by the Bush Administration. Edwards was also able to hold his own when the debate turned to China -- demonstrating that he does indeed have some heft on foreign policy.

Joe Biden/Chris Dodd: It's no secret that Biden and Dodd have chafed against their lack of speaking time in the debates to date. In this debate, both were given considerably more time to make their points, and they did so effectively. Biden seemed to be channeling John McCain circa 2000, repeatedly telling listeners it was time to talk straight about issues. And, the focus on foreign policy allowed Biden to flex his knowledge on the issues and tout his time at the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Dodd lent the event its lone real moment of levity when he assured the debates' moderators that his children would not be receiving toys from China but rather toys from Iowa. Dodd also spoke authoritatively on the issue of immigration, even forcing Biden at one point to defer to his deeper knowledge on the issue.

LOSERS

Hillary Clinton: Here's the problem for the junior Senator from New York: Despite the fact that polling in Iowa shows her in tight race with Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), her rivals for the nomination still treat her as though she is the frontrunner. On Iran, she took incoming from all sides -- Obama and Edwards accused her of attempting to distort their past statements, while Dodd and Biden castigated Clinton for her vote in favor of the now infamous Kyl-Lieberman amendment that designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. Clinton was also hurt by the topics chosen by NPR; on Iran and immigration she has taken considerable flack for her positions; her strongest issue, health care, was left out of the mix.

Mike Gravel: It's just hard to see why the former Alaska Senator continues to make the cut for these debates. He is an asterisk in every state and national poll we've seen, has raised next to nothing, and seems to believe his role in these gatherings is to serve as the resident crank.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/12/npr_debate_winners_and_losers.html

[K Gardner]

1. Oh shoot, no more cherry-picking THIS story :-) n/t

[Renew Deal]

4. Every other thread should be locked.

This is the only one with an accurate headline.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. I think it's valuable for both supporters and detractors of candidates to know what's being said...

in the press. We need advocacy -- but I think we also need stories straight on.

[Eurobabe]

2. I think Biden, Edwards, Dodd, Obama were best

in that order.

Hillary was off her game.

[mikelgb]

3. Real Winner: Dennis

Wins by exclusion

[Renew Deal]

5. He was there

:shrug:

[mikelgb]

6. no shit

but you wouldn't know it from this article

[Renew Deal]

7. Just checking

Sometimes people feel that their candidate got snubbed one way or another. ;)