So what tactic will each of them take? Will either be aggressively attacking the other, mocking the other, or will it be a show of mutual respect trying to out do each other to the high road? What does each of them want to accomplish with their performance at this point? What should I be looking for?
Look for Barack to be succinct and razor sharp on the issues and I think you can look for Hillary to be succinct and diplomatic as well. I’ll say that I think Clinton will slip out her forked tongue with in the first 5 minutes. She’s in the death throes of a campaign, her numbers are dwindling, and Obama is full steam ahead, psychologically that will play into her performance.
I doubt we will see aggressive attacks, I think they will by in large be mutually respectful of each other.
Obama wants to make absolutely clear he is the right guy for the job and that he is honed in on the issues and have an air about him that nothing will bring him down.
Clinton is going to try and cast doubt on Obamas candidacy and electability - she’s going to look foolish if she presses it, because George Stephanopolos will bring up the poll out today showing her trust rating at an all time low and his at an all time high. And his recent polling ahead of McCain. It’s not looking good for Clinton…
I expect Clinton or the moderator to bring up clinging bitterness at some point. Preferably (for Clinton) in a way that Obama can’t easily respond to it.
He’ll devour that question, just like he did in the media, and it all but fizzled.
Hillary will lie out of both sides of her mouth throughout the entire debate. She’ll probably be a little bitchy and desperate too.
Barack will be perfect in every way.
Someone will deem the response thread “another bashfest.” 
I’m interested to see if they step away from the increased tension that’s been on display in the last few weeks. They’ll probably stay fairly polite to each other, but we’ll see. I’m also curious to see how often Clinton brings up the idea that people are unfairly pushing for her to get out
Someone will deem the response thread “another bashfest.”
I’m interested to see if they step away from the increased tension that’s been on display in the last few weeks. They’ll probably stay fairly polite to each other, but we’ll see. I’m also curious to see how often Clinton brings up the idea that people are unfairly pushing for her to get out.
Look for more Clinton emphasis on her “experience” and salt-of-the-earth qualities, although I hear plans for her to down a shot and a beer to kick off the debate have been shelved as being “over the top”.
I imagine both will be called on to comment on recent “gaffes” or embarassments involving both sides, but I don’t expect pointed mudslinging from either party.
After all this time, what else do they really have to debate about? Best to shelve the traditional format, and instead have a bowl-off for the Michigan and Florida delegates. First to 100 pins wins them all (this could take all night, though).
I was thinking that after I posted… - 
We can’t forget the George Stephanopolos and Charlie Gibson are moderating…George loves his polls and Charlie hates a cry baby, so this could get interesting tonight.
I heard Obama was going to make his entrance clinging to a gun and a bible.
Hillary will challenge Barack to a drinkin’-shootin’-bowlin’ triathlon. Obama will tell Hillary that she’s working her way off his short list of vice presidential picks. Both will have anticipated the hard questions and have canned answers. Everybody who likes Obama will say he won, Hillary backers will say she did. Right now everyone’s heels are dug in so deep that nothing that can be said or done tonight will make a whit of difference.
Yep - I agree, barring an unforseen catastrophe, it’ll stay status quo
This.
Custer’s Last Stand.
The way I see it, Hillary has to come through on her “throw the kitchen sink” strategy. It’s what she chose to do, thus live by the sword and all that.
Meaning? I think she’ll be feisty as all get-out and rather quarrelsome on any one issue they might differ on or even twist the ones they do-- will it work? Highly doubtful for all Obama has to do is remain ‘Presidential’ just like he did in the last one.
Disclaimer: when I say she’ll be feisty and quarrelsome, I don’t necessarily mean she’ll loose her manners…but by the same token, I wouldn’t be surprise to see an outburst or two and/or a useless dig, as she’s literally got nothing to lose and all to gain. Like the vapid “Xerox” thing from last time.
Throw some mud and hope some of it sticks. Too little too late, IMO, for Obama’s picked a coat of Teflon each time she’s tried going that route.
I mean what else could she possibly have left to throw at him? But I’ll be watching anyway.
I’m behind that if they bowl overhand.
I’m not so sure…I think she’s going to have to show that she will hold a united party and thus stand up on a stage somewhere, sometime showing she supports Obama. She’s not going to want to lose too much face by doing anything too drastic. I don;t think, but I wouldn’t put it past her.
As far as people NOT in one of the upcoming primary states, yes. But I do think it will make at least some difference to undecided voters in PA, NC and IN. People who haven’t been able to make it to a live rally, town hall, diner or bowling alley, or who’ve only seen their television commercials or heard their radio ads; those are the people who will be watching tonight, who can be swayed one way or another.
Some of us may be die-hards, watching every debate, but most people don’t bother to tune in to debates until they’re held in their own town/state, or right before their election.
As for how it will go, I predict that Hillary will come out swinging hard, particularly on the Lobbyist issue, which seems to be the primary issue she’s been focusing all her ads on in PA.
Some questions I hope they ask Hillary:
- How is possible to “misspeak” on Bosnia on four different occasions?
- What role does Mark Penn have in your campaign at this time?
- Tell us about how you care about the rural folks in the small states which don’t really matter?
- What was your position on gun control in your run for Senate in New York?
- Do you honestly beleive you are not an elitist? doesn’t the fact that someone wants to be President make them an elitist?
- If (when) Obama gets the nomination do you plan on supporting him, with all his elitist attutudes, lack of credentials to be CIC, inability to answer a phone at 3 am, and empty rhetoric?
I expect to see none of these questions asked.
I think this will have more ramifications for he GE than for the Primary. As has been noted, most everyone has already picked their dogs in the Primary fight. I think the challenge tonight will be for Obama to try to boost his general positives back up by making a forceful response to all the gotcha ya bullshit. I think his best defense to media villification is himself – his own presence and demeanor, and his own unedited discourse. He hasn’t really had a large, national audience for several weeks and I think this is a chance to really fire back at the media, clean off a lot of the crap and really right the course for the GE.
Hillary needs some kind of giant turnover, but ity’s going to be difficult for her to force one. I think she’ll try to go right at the gotcha ya stuff, but I also think that Obama’s going to be loaded for bear on that account and she might just end up playing right to him by giving him the opprtunity to defnd himself.
I’m trying to think of ways that Hillary could really help herself on offense, but I think it’s going to be all but impossible for her to win this thing all by herself. Her only credible chance is going to be if Obama helps her out by somehow imploding.
In the head-to-head, I expect pretty much a wash, but Obama has a chance to help himself out in General, and unless Barack starts hitting on a crack pipe or goes on a Farrakhanian, numerology laced diatribe against the Jews, I think Hillary is just playing out the string.
Hillary will say, “This is too important” more than once - and succeed at least one time in getting the floor back - despite stated rules.
Obama will ask to respond to a specific in what she says, and get the floor at least once - despite stated rules.
A few people will mute their TV’s and see the debate in much clearer terms.