Hillary sounded great in the last few minutes, but what she said sounded very much like a concession speech. She mentioned how honored she was to be debating with Barack, and then talked about how the loser would survive. It sounded to me like a very gracious way of saying that she wasn’t going to win, but that she’d be O.K. and that she’d support Barack as the nominee.
I can see that. The fact that she’s not going to amp up the negativity and combativeness proves she’s a much better person than she’s been made out to be by her harshest critics.
No keep listening - Cnn just said he appeared for the first time like a Very Credibel Commander in Chief.
This is exactly what it sounded like to me too. I think we’ll start to see superdelegates very soon start gravitating to him to win it, and let Hillary stand strong behind him. And that’s what she conveyed tonight, that she will stand behind him.
Poor Hillary.
I really doubt it’s a matter of being a good person or a bad person. She’s attacked him many times in the past, and even did so during this debate. The line about “xeroxing hope” and her comments about his eloquence were pretty snide. What she’s found is that attacking him doesn’t help her, and so perhaps she’s dialing it down a little.
Tolly-berone. That oughta go well with the Pocky-stahn.
My reference is to speculation that Hillary would go down kicking and screaming, clinging to superdelegates on the convention floor. I don’t think she’ll do that anymore, and am enormously relieved… and a little embarrassed that I expected the worse from her.
For the very first time, Hillary moved me to tears. To me, her end comments sounded like goodbye. I’m sure they didn’t mean to, but Obama performed so well, and she is so intelligent, I think she is realizing that she can’t win it. She will be alright, I think it was like she was telling us and herself this.
I know I will be accused of reading too much into it, but I was startled and moved by her at the end of the debate.
From the sounds of Hillary’s closing statement and Bill’s “do or die” words earlier this week, I think we’re seeing the Clintons beginning to accept the probability of a loss and perhaps (if Hillary’s closing words are any indiction) deciding that they will take the high road in defeat rather than hurting their party with an aggressive convention fight.
I think they will both win back a lot of good will in the party if they can show some real grace in defeat and stand behind Barack.
If HRC loses Texas, she runs the risk of turning into a “Hillabee,” hanging around in a contest that’s already been decided and just looking silly. As badly as she wants this, I think she might be starting to wake to the reality that it isn’t going to happen for her. There is no shame in continuing a career in the Senate for her, and honestly, the Dems will need her leadership there to make some policies like UHC a reality.
Hillary’s closing line was apparently very much like one given by a Democratic candidate who has already bowed out.
I’m not pointing this out for the “plagiarism!” bit but rather that it DID seem as though she was saying “Don’t weep for me and give up when I lose this”.
Not trying to be nasty with you but rather proving a point on the absurdity of the plagiarism accusations.
Xerox much, Hill?
Which only makes me wonder how many people cried when Bill said it the first time. Judging from all the praise she got for her closing, I bet her staff knows. Good line to steal I must admit…and I bet The Big Dawg wasn’t overly upset either, 
Xerox much, RedFury? 
Well I’m satisfied that Obama was wonkish enough, without even glazing over too many eyes in the process. He’s geared up for the general now and HRC is softening the ground the accept it.
Pardon my “trigger-happy” submit finger.
PD-Note the use of quotation marks lest someone accuses me of being a plagiarist/Xeroxist as well.
Ooops! Too late. Someone already did. Damn Dopers, so freaking smart. 
I just got home from the debate and it is quite interesting to read the comments here. I wonder if some of you watched the same debate I did.
The crowd was definitely more behind Obama than Clinton. They actually hissed at her when the plagerism topic came up.
I was looking forward to see Obama speak, his eloquence is legendary. I was surprised at the amount of ums and errs. He seemed to ebb and flo and didn’t really feel completely prepared.
Despite all of the reassurances that they are such great friends, they seemed pretty darn cold when the camera was turned off.
I sincerely doubt anyone’s mind was either changed or made up for them after seeing the debate. I am still on the fence as to which one I will vote for. I had hoped that I would leave the debate with a solid feeling towards either of them, but I didn’t.
My wife was saying during the debate that he looked ill. Not “this debate is bad” ill but physically ill. I read someone on one of the news sites saying that he was stuffed up as well. Not to excuse him because I thought he held his own but I’m wondering if he wasn’t under the weather and losing his edge. Getting a few hours of sleep a night and running from frigid Wisconsin to balmy Texas seems like a good way to come down with something.
Interesting to hear your reaction abbeytxs.
The pundits have concluded that Obama was stronger on Iraq, and Hillary was stronger on health care, and the rest was a wash. I think that’s probably somewhat close to the truth. Did you feel the same way?
Obama seemed like he had a head cold. His voice was a little off. But maybe he was just tired or nervous.
Also, I gotta ask, as an undecided voter, what are you looking for?