# Ohio Democratic Debate 2008: Predictions and Commentary. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 26, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310 "2008-02-26T23:24:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/61 "2008-02-27T03:51:13Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] Clinton’s fire-up and subsequent whining set the stage for her… [/QUOTE] It will also be what is played over and over starting tomorrow and will become the only points a good portion of the voters remember. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/62 "2008-02-27T03:58:59Z")
Wow, I wish I had found this thread earlier. I’ve been reading the posts on the New York Times “Live Blog” of the debate, and for some reason the lunatics are out in force over there. [http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/the-last-waltz-the-democratic-debate-in-cleveland/index.html?hp](http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/the-last-waltz-the-democratic-debate-in-cleveland/index.html?hp) > [@Looney Toon](#): > > Under Clinton, the country will be saved but under Obama, the country will be destroyed. Due to Obama’s personal desire of power, the country is under fire. No matter how hard Obama works for his personal ambition, he is not electable. He will be beated by Ms. Clinton or beated by Mr. Mccain. That is his fate. Too many bad/ugly plans and conducts he has done. He knows that, and God knows that. God will not agree to hand the country into his hand. It seems that people decide / vote for president. But in fact God chooses the figure. It is too bad, many people do not understand it. I have learnt it through the election of 2004. I realize that even though Bush is not good but better tha Kerry. Therefore, Bush won, and Kerry lose. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/63 "2008-02-27T04:01:16Z")
Well God seems to be behind Obama for the last few contests. I like the idea that Clinton is not the power hungry one though. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/64 "2008-02-27T04:02:43Z")
No game-changing moments here. Obama handled the theatrics of the Clinton tape very well with humor, Hillary actually did too. Her bitching about the questions coming to her first was quite curious- like a football coach saying “damn, we always get the ball first.” The SNL quip was a clinker, you’d think by now she would learn that she is not Jay Leno and can’t use a canned line and get away with it. She came as close as she is capable of admitting the Iraq vote was a mistake, Obama finally had the perfect comeback for the Clinton-McCain nonsense about Obama wanting to bomb Pakistan. Personal observation- I think as a moderator, Tim Russert is head and shoulders above the whole of CNN. His questions were well thought out, his follow ups were laser sharp, and he didn’t ask any stupid questions. He dogged at Hillary about releasing her tax forms and on Obama for the public finance pledge. Outstanding job, Tim. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/65 "2008-02-27T04:03:06Z")
Well, some people have spoken…and they feel it’s Obama by a KO: [Who do you think did the best? Did it change your mind?](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23354735/) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/66 "2008-02-27T04:09:08Z")
Obama looked and sounded Presidential a few times, which can only help, even if it was obvious when he evaded some questions. His Iraq criticism was very strong and will get some strong play on the news. His last answer was good. And he did do a very good job rising above her obvious sarcasm with the “choirs” thing. She just doesn’t have the capability to do that. She did get him on the Israel question. He seemed to be deliberately avoiding the word denounce and she called him on it. Otherwise I thought she was strong on the details, but she undermined herself with the “I get the first question” whine and her habit of talking over everybody. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/67 "2008-02-27T04:14:55Z")
[QUOTE=RedFury] Well, some people have spoken…and they feel it’s Obama by a KO: [Who do you think did the best? Did it change your mind?](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23354735/) [/QUOTE] Holy guacamole. I know that sort of poll is decidedly unscientific, but still… wow. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/68 "2008-02-27T04:17:03Z")
“Uh…med…uh, uh, meni, medved, medved-davuh, whatever, yes.” [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyDkzmZJ3qE) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/69 "2008-02-27T04:21:35Z")
Hm, a liberal commentator (Rachel Maddow of Air America Radio) just said the real winner of the debate was McCain… Anybody else think it was that bad? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/70 "2008-02-27T04:22:38Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] Hm, a liberal commentator (Rachel Maddow of Air America Radio) just said the real winner of the debate was McCain… Anybody else think it was that bad? [/QUOTE] It was boring, but not that bad. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/71 "2008-02-27T04:24:52Z")
Do you think Obama would have nailed the name if it had been him asked? I doubt it. BTW I would have laughed out loud if Obama had credited HRC for his “proud to be here with Hillary Clinton” bit: “… and yes that phrase is borrowed from Hillary …” I think his strongly positive words that Hillary Clinton would be a good standard bearer (but he’d be better) took a lot of wind out her sails. She was ready with a response that would have been one of her negative memes and instead had to wing it with a “but I’m a woman and isn’t that special. Vote for me because I have ovaries. He doesn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/72 "2008-02-27T04:25:09Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] “Uh..med…uh, uh, meni, medved, medved-davuh, whatever, yes.” ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eyDkzmZJ3qE/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/eyDkzmZJ3qE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque [/QUOTE] Sounds like she knew the name but didn’t know how to pronounce it correctly. I don’t blame her, I’ve heard it pronounced different ways and I still don’t know the correct ronuncitaion - is it med-VIEH-di-ef? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/73 "2008-02-27T04:29:07Z")
Again, boring and wonkish was just the right card for Obama to play right now. Glazing over a few eyes in a few debates is a small price to pay to disarm the impression that he lacks the policy knowledge heft to match his oratory skills. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/74 "2008-02-27T04:30:04Z")
With the mis-pronunciation thingie, Obama missed a huge opportunity. It should have gone something like this: “You know, Tim, I just thought I’d interject here and state that I think, if I can speak for the both of us, that I didn’t know the name either, and that this intense campaign season has really made it difficult to keep up with foreign affairs to the extent that we normally would” Of course it would have sounded better if the Big O had said it but you get the drift. It would be on of those things he does that isn’t really giving up much, and making him seem much more generous. He has a way of turning these “Gotcha!” politics into non-issues. That’s the great thing about him, because the Republicans will dial it up a notch and he’ll just shrug it off. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/75 "2008-02-27T04:47:09Z")
I think that, overall, Obama came out the winner. They were both strong on policy points but Obama didn’t share in Clinton’s weak beginning, bombed SNL comment and general snark. She got her game together (I think the muttered boos made her realize going negative wasn’t going to work) but people still saw that first twenty minutes. More to the point, Obama seemed knowledgable, confident and presidental. He handled himself well under the usual attack points (Pakistan, “Celestial Choirs”, Health care, etc). He didn’t give people interested in him an obvious reason to think “Wow, voting for _him_ would be a mistake!” Clinton really needed Obama to fumble the ball and block his growth in the polls. He’s leading in Texas now and 5-6% shy in Ohio according to SurveyUSA & Rasmussen and I don’t think anything from tonight will kill that. Now, with no more debates, Obama is free to work his rally and speeches ground game which is significantly stronger than Clinton’s. She missed her last chance here and I expect an Obama victory in Texas and Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/76 "2008-02-27T04:51:40Z")
Where can I find clips of this debate? I can’t seem to find them in the usual places… ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/77 "2008-02-27T05:09:41Z")
It was an MSNBC debate so I’d start there. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/78 "2008-02-27T05:13:30Z")
“Reject and denounce” was a very deft answer and took some wind out of Hillary’s sails. I like the way he never takes the bait when people are trying to start shit with him. That calm, measured demeanor of his really is rather “Presidential.” He’s always a cucumber no matter what’s getting thrown at him. I also liked “Sounds good to me,” which I thing lightened a tense moment. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/79 "2008-02-27T05:36:07Z")
Speaking of things mispronounced . . . Obama mispronounced Massachusetts (Massa-TOO-setts), twice. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310/80 "2008-02-27T05:39:43Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] Hm, a liberal commentator (Rachel Maddow of Air America Radio) just said the real winner of the debate was McCain… Anybody else think it was that bad? [/QUOTE] I’ll be damned, I didn’t realize they were still on the air. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ohio-democratic-debate-2008-predictions-and-commentary/439310.md?page=5)