Debate Recap

In case you weren't at the Dems meeting the other night or weren't near a tv, you can find a play by play of the debate between 2008 Democratic Presidential hopefuls here.

Basically, nothing new came out of the debate. In fact, it wasn't so much a chance for candidates to clarify their positions on the issues as it was for them to cut at each others' throats publicly for the first time. Though the tone remained relatively upbeat, moderator Tim Russert didn't let anyone get by with anything. He proved that Hillary has directly contradicted her husband's own statements on torture, possibly signalling her move towards the middle on the issue. Russert got Obama to admit he can't make any promises on pulling troops out of Iraq. Russert also reveals that perhaps the reason Kucinich is behind in the polls is that he doesn't know what year we are currently in. Furthermore, Edwards just can't run away from his $400 hair cut.

All snide remarks aside, the debate highlighted the key issues that are currently giving Democrats strength:
- All of the candidates want universal health care
- All of the candidates want to be out of Iraq (though only Kucinich and Gravel have actually voted for bills that say as much)
- Under their plans, social security will still be in existence when we're all of retiring age
- They are willing to admit we are in an energy crisis
- A new issue: a national smoking ban such as that that just went in place in the UK in July.

I think the most valuable point that came out of the debate is that, though Hillary leads in the polls, none of the candidates is giving up. This bodes well for the performance of the Democratic party as a whole in the coming year.

-Emily