It’s a couple hours now until the final debate happens between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Pundits, News Agencies, and Political folks around the country are calling it the last chance for Clinton to try and gain a leg up on Barack Obama before the seriously contested Mar. 4th Primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Prediction from myself: Clinton doesn’t hold as many punches as last week’s debate, she tries to paint Barack as inexperienced and tries to nail him down on foreign policy and Foreign trade agreements. She may be nastier than last week.
Obama continues to hit Clinton with her past regarding NAFTA, he fields Clintons punches like a champion and slips in some of his own. He remains calm the entire debate and tries to butter her with niceties…
Doubtful: Her head spins around and she barfs pea soup.
Seriously, I don’t see her making many friends tonight either. With the ending of the last debate and her subsequent behaviour, I see Obama possibly bringing that up, but not for sure. I’m not sure she can dig out of that charade.
At this point, Hillary almost has to go negative if only because it’s what she’s spent the last week doing. She’ll sound a bit funny trying to play the respect card. I expect more of the same that she’s done earlier this week: hit on the mailers to make him look hypocritical, accusing him of using the turban photos to distract from the issues.
For his part, Obama had better stay above the fray. Point out Clinton’s vagueness on NAFTA and her own health care plan. Fine. He’s no good at slinging mud though, and it’ll only make it look like Hillary is getting to him.
HRC’s last chance? Nah. She’s past that. Short of Obama doing or saying something very stupid it doesn’t matter.
Go more negative? It doesn’t sell well. Might get more supers to jump ship before March 5th.
Show respect? He gets to continue to look presidential and continues to move his ground game along.
Which failed approach will be the tactic of the day? Or will she do both in the same debate again? I don’t know but it doesn’t matter. If she is as smart as I think she is she’ll cool down the negative as that is both more assured of pulling her life support faster and hurts her longer term reputation more. But ego is a mysterious thing.
Obama? Just like in the Texas primary, he needs to focus beyond March 5 and look more towards using this to hone his general election game. Issues with detail again. Avoid fireworks and show his wonknicity.
The general consensus is that she has to win both BIG. Small margins of victory won’t deliver anywhere near enough delegates to make a difference for her.
She’s not gonna go all unhinged. In fact, I’ll bet she’s even less negative than last time with the plagiarism thing. She’ll keep it on substance: foreign policy and experience–both tied to the economy. The most negative thing she’ll do is distort his position on Iraq and call into question his preparedness. He’ll counter by pointing to good judgment on Iraq.
I think this debate will be substantially similar to the last. Even though this is her last chance, we won’t see any fireworks, though not for lack of trying on MSNBC’s part.
One more prediction: MSNBC will have tougher questions for Obama than Clinton.
For those not watching at home - Clinton has a steel gaze at Obama as he dives straight into her healcare plan, and illustrates through facts that her plan is bogus and her attacks are warrentless.
It was a good move for Obama to just let the “dressed picture” issue go and basically rise above it.
Hillary sounds a little disingenuous about the health care mailers but I understand it’s an important issue to her and I’m willing to forgive her for being defensive about it.
Obama’s hitting the points well. BOTH are clearly uncomfortable up there.
Stop saying how important the plan is Hill, we know. So does Obama. Stop dodging your enforcement plan.