The South Carolina Martin Luther King Day Democratic Debate

For the next two hours I hope to bring you some of my thoughts on how this debate is going. I am an Edwards supporter, but I will do my best to be fair analyzing their debate performance. The format is very interesting and CNN is basically allowing a free form debate!

10:04-I think this debate gave the people of South Carolina a great deal to think about. My analysis, for what it's worth is that Obama and Edwards gained and I think Edwards could seriously make a strong 3rd place showing. Hillary didn't really seem to have "it" and even got boo'd! This is probably the most exciting election cycle in my lifetime.

10:01-Good answer by Edwards, great one by Obama. Tepid applause, however.
10:00-Wow. Last question by Wolf: If Dr. King were alive, why would he endorse you?
9:59-Edwards makes a very strong foreign policy statement.
9:55-The "lobbyist" issue rears its ugly head. Hillary is simply wrong on this.
9:46-Edwards makes a very good case that if McCain's the GOP candidate, he is the only one who can whip McCain's butt. And you know what? he's right.
CNN's Bill Schneider is blogging this debate quite well over on CNN's main 2008 election site.
9:36-Obama points out the difference between his race and the very real problem of race in America. Very good points. Again, Edwards is "just the white guy."
9:30-Joe Johns asks Obama: "Do you think Bil Clinton was our first black president." Gives him a chance to bridge the races.
9:27-Edwards is becoming the butt of "white male" jokes.
9:22-Now we're getting into race and the question facing Edwards and Clinton: Should people of color vote for white people if they're voting in their best self interest?
9:11-Break
9:10-This issue, Iraq, isn't enough to differentiate these three candidates all that much.
9:05-Edwards on Bush thinking that the surge in Iraq is the means to a political end: "If Bush recognizes it, then man it's really got to be out there."
9:03-Hillary says there's no military solution to the war.
9:01-Here come the war questions...
8:56-All three give good answers on their healthcare plans. Obama really does differ from Clinton and Edwards on this.
8:49-Suzanne Malveaux tosses Hillary a softball about HIV/AIDS.
8:47-Edwards places himself above the frey, but doesn't let Obama respond.
8:45-Hillary is treating the viewers like idiots. Like we don't know why senators sometimes vote against bills that on the surface seem good but don't go far enough. She also attacks Obama on some of his votes and is slammed again.
8:43-Hillary gets boo'd! Amazing. She looks like she's going down in flames!
8:40-More sniping between Obama and Clinton. They really don't like each other, it seems.
8:34-Edwards outright calls the economic power structure in the United States racist.
8:31-Edwards starts to separate he and Obama from Hillary and brings some humor into the debate: "Let me finish because lord knows, you let them go on forever!"
8:30-Edwards pulls the debate back on track.
8:26-WOW! Obama just delivered a huge uppercut to Hillary re: her stint on the board of Wal Mart and clarifying his statements about Ronald Reagan very well. This debate is degenerating.
8:22-Obama launches the first serious shot across Hillary's bow by claiming things she say aren't true. Goes after Bill Clinton, too. So far this is Obama's best debate performace.
8:20-Obama and Edwards spar a little bit on free trade and economic stimulus. I still think Edwards and Obama are a natural team, come November.
8:15-Edwards gives a good position but doesn't exactly answer the question. Looks bad denying an immediate cash payout to poor people.
8:10-Hillary gives a decent answer to the question.
8:08-First question on the economy from Joe Johns.