Ted Van Dyk on Last Night's Austin Debate

Published Feb 22 2008, 12:02 PM by webteam

    One of the Democrats' great senior wise men, Ted Van Dyk, former aide to Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, and others, sent me this wrapup of the debate last night. As always, he bears listening to:

     . . . Both Obama and Clinton have honed their performances over many months until, now, they are in late-playoff form. Both kept their poise in the presence of the other. Clinton---having lost 11 straight contests one-sidedly to Obama and facing elimination if she loses Texas and Ohio on March 4---gave what I thought was her best performance of the year. Her closing statement, which could be read as accepting possible defeat, was graceful and well delivered. Her husband was not in evidence. It was Hillary, just Hillary and her daughter Chelsea on the stage and working the audience. And Hillary came through famously.

    Obama, for his part, conceded nothing in the substantive debate and skillfully made his case. In the end, it was two heavyweights battling to a draw. The energy in the University of Texas auditorium was far greater than at any Republican debate from the beginning of the process. I favor Obama but found myself being proud of both Hillary and Obama at the end of the evening. It is unlikely they will form a ticket. Neither should want to be No. 2 in an administration led by the other. Either, in 2009, would have far more power and influence as Senator from New York or Illinois than as understudy to the other.

    One thing to know about debates: Candidates go into them attempting, first of all, to make no big mistakes but, otherwise, to reinforce their own supporters. Both Obama and Clinton did that well last evening. The trouble for Clinton is that Obama's supporters are now more numerous than hers. . . .

Filed Under: Clinton, Democrats, Obama

Guest Blog Pundit Vic Sholis: The Battle for Texas

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Ted Van Dyk on Last Night's Austin Debate

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