The California Debate

A fascinating two hours greatly enhanced by having only two candidates facing each other side-by-side. Even without bitter accusations the two hours flew by. As I was prepared to dislike Clinton based on her South Carolina and Florida moves, I was pleasantly surprised by my initial reaction. Her command of the issues and articulate statement of them was quite impressive. Obama at the start seemed more halting in his speech and less specific. But that changed as time went by and different topics were introduced. It was less that Clinton fell off – she maintained the same command throughout - but that Obama improved substantially so by the end he seemed to have the better of it.

The lessening of the acrimony benefitted both of them and bodes well for the Democrats. I think the change throughout the debate mirrors the primary progress as well. Clinton is just better known and has an advantage over Obama in the short time left before Super Tuesday. But if Obama can get enough delegates to keep the race close, the longer the primary campaigns lasts, the stronger he will become as people begin to know more about him.

If McCain gets the Republican nomination, there will be a stark comparison between McCain’s age and Obama’s youth, between the past and the future, between a Bush supporter and an anti-Iraq position from the start of the war. With Clinton running the contrast is more muted and McCain may have an edge with independents and moderate Republicans. I think the country will buy into an inspirational message of change and vital energy: shades of JFK.

But at least I now feel I can strongly support either Democrat over either Republican.