Supporters cheer for their candidates before the Democratic Presidential Debate between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton at Cleveland State University on Tuesday, February 26, 2008, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)
by Jim Tankersley
CLEVELAND - "We are all witnesses," the giant Nike billboard downtown proclaims. Tonight, more than ever, that's true.
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will supplant the man on the billboard, LeBron James, as the biggest stars in Cleveland tonight, when they debate at 9 p.m. at Cleveland State University.
It's the political equivalent of a playoff atmosphere. The debate is the last faceoff between the Democratic presidential candidates before next week's critical primaries in Ohio and Texas. For Clinton, who trails Obama in delegates and has lost every nominating contest since Feb. 5, it could be her final chance to change the tide of a race that is on the brink of slipping out of her grasp. For Obama, who is tied with Clinton in Texas and has cut her early Ohio lead to single digits according to recent polls, it could be his night to all-but clinch the nomination - or commit the sort of mistake that opens the door for a Clinton comeback.
The hype has electrified the local media (though the city itself seems to be hiding inside from a snowstorm today). The Plain Dealer, Cleveland's local newspaper, devoted its entire front page to a debate preview (sprinkled with weather forecast) this morning. Television coverage is ramping up. Ohio is used to this sort of presidential frenzy, but not usually until the general election, when it proudly assumes its role of pivotal swing state.
Tonight, we'll be watching for how the candidates address Ohio's struggling economy, how they reassure "security mom" voters in the state's suburbs that they can keep America safe and how populist they get in their economy-themed pitches to blue collar voters.
Mostly, though, we'll be watching to see how Clinton tries to change the race. Will she attack? Emote? Pull a surprise of some kind?
The Swamp's own Jason George will be live-blogging those answers, and everything else debate-related, here tonight. Tune in and join him. Remember, you're a witness too.
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Comments
Get ready for Schizophrenic Nation - Clinton has become as unpredictable as she would have us believe Obama would be as President....
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/02/26/schizophrenic-politics-a-penrose-triangle/
Posted by: Ohg Rea Tone | February 26, 2008 2:06 PM
"DICK MORRIS SPEAKS"
NO I'M NOT COL. MORRIS DAVIS, BUT VOTING FOR THAT WOMAN WOULD END THE WARS IN IRAQ. VOTING FOR THAT WOMAN WOULD EMBOLDEN OUR FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON. NO I'M NOT COL. MORRIS DAVIS, RENDER THAT WOMAN, RENDER HER NOW! CONDI RICE WILL DO IT.
IT'S PUT YOUR "DUKES UP" TONIGHT. IT'S A FIGHT, A FIGHT, BETWEEN A... OOPS THIS ISN'T MISSISSIPPI, THIS IS THE GOP NFP DINNER. THERE ARE NO LOBBYIST IN THE HOUSE.
THIS IS A LIVE DEBATE BETWEEN TWO DEMOCRATS AND NO REPUBLICANS. THIS IS LATE NIGHT CNN, MSNBC PUNDIT TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT OF BILL BENNETT AND TOM DELAY.
VOTE FOR "THAT WOMAN" and you will have healthcare AND YOUR TROOPS HOME WITHIN 120 DAYS.
VOTE FOR "THAT WOMAN" and the real Al Queda will step forward and say, YOU CAN FOOL A FOOL TWICE GEORGE!
I ROGER MORRIS APPROVE THIS MESSAGE!
Posted by: Roger Morris | February 26, 2008 2:29 PM
Barack and Roll, baby!
...and you're next, crazy old man McCain!
Posted by: yeah yeah yeahs | February 26, 2008 2:40 PM
We are all witnesses to candidates’ scandalous attacks on each other. Hillary’s remarks about people that have a dream are not surprising, after she lost her dreams following the scandals and lies of her husband. The fish starts to stink from the head. Look at the current state of the nation. We don’t need more hardened politicians nor trigger happy faces looking for their gun. We hope Obama continues to dream and talk more folks off other candidates’ drum wagons. We all need to have a dream.
Posted by: Walt Goodman | February 26, 2008 2:56 PM
Clinton is ground breaking woman but Obama is a phony progressive and Nader is the best and here is why:
Over the past few months, we’ve heard a lot of rhetoric about change, hope, courage and experience from Barack Obama and John McCain.
But what about the facts on the ground?
Take a moment to test your civics knowledge in this election year.
Of the following Presidential candidates – Ralph Nader, Barak Obama and John McCain – which one supports a single payer, Canadian style, free choice, Medicare for all health care system?
Answer: Ralph Nader
Which one supports solar energy and would take nuclear power off the table?
Answer: Ralph Nader
Which one would cut the huge bloated wasteful military budget?
Answer: Ralph Nader
Which one would reverse U.S. Middle East policy in Israel/Palestine, Iraq and Iran?
Answer: Ralph Nader
Which one would launch an aggressive crackdown on corporate crime and corporate welfare?
Answer: Ralph Nader
Who has consistently supported the Palestinian right to nationhood and peaceful settlement?
Answer: Ralph Nader
(Obama has flip-flopped and has now been bought off by the Israel lobby)
Who has never been in cahoots with the likes of Exelon corp. or Rezko?
Answer: Ralph Nader
Who has spent his entire life working for the common people like you and me and has written books to advance the rights of consumers?
Answer: Ralph Nader
(Obama wrote his books about himself while Nader was looking out for us.)
Who has been direct about proclaiming that Bush is a war criminal?
Answer: Ralph Nader
Which candidate has opposed all wars, every time?
Answer: Ralph Nader
(Obama supports bombing Pakistan and war against Afghanistan)
Some claim that having a racial minority as president would send a positive message to the world. So which candidate would be best suited to address the troubed areas in the world?
Answer: Once again, Ralph Nader, an Arab-American
(Who better to quell the anti-American sentiment in Arab world than an Arab-American)
Can you guess the others?
What's off the table for Ralph?
The empty rhetoric.
The empty gesture.
The empty politics.
What’s on the table?
Taking these issues seriously – all the way to action.
Challenging the corporate domination of our democracy.
Organizing young and old alike, 1,000 in every Congressional district in the country, half a million strong, to take back the country from the corporations.
If Obama or McCain and their parties had seriously and effectively addressed these and other necessities vital to the American people, there would be no need for Ralph Nader to run for President.
Ralph Nader would be happily out of business.
But we’ve waited so very long – and still – not a blip on the political radar screen on any of these issues.
So in this pivotal election year, ask yourself this fundamental question:
Which side are you on?
The corporate criminals, the big banks, Wall Street, the credit card companies, the nuclear power industry, the war profiteers, the agribusiness giants, the health insurance industry, the polluters, the drug companies, the unionbusters, Big Oil, the corporate Democrats and corporate Republicans?
Or with people fighting back?
Vote Nader!
Posted by: Jaydon | February 26, 2008 2:57 PM
Tonight's debate will probably be last debate that we will see from Obama and Hillary. The candidates also gave speeches in the state over the past weekend. Here's part of Obama's speech.
http://campaigncircus.com/video_player.php?v=8018
Posted by: kberly7568 | February 26, 2008 3:00 PM
If Hillary isn't the candidate, I think McCain will chew Obama up and spit him out in pieces in the general election debate. Hillary hasn't spent too much time running Obama down -- I don't for a minute think McCain will be as gracious.
Posted by: Lynn | February 26, 2008 3:04 PM
Thank the Heavens this is the last debate. There are only so many things that can be talked about. All they have time now for is to argue over that last set of un-civil adds and un-cool attacks on Barak by the Former First lady.
It's time for a new generation of thoughts and ideas and a strong break away from divisive politics of the last 28 years and three ruling families. Its time for someone THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE VOTE FOR!
GO OBAMA 08
Posted by: Maurice - California | February 26, 2008 3:10 PM
"Get ready for Schizophrenic Nation"
Fitting,as there seems to be hallucinations of a messiah in the Obama supporters. What's next? "Forgive me of my sins, O Great Holy Obama"?
Posted by: Shadow | February 26, 2008 3:10 PM
If this was on pay per view...I'd pay!
There is nothing better than seeing two socialist and Marxist lefties do battle...if only Hugo and Fidel could be asking the questions tonight!
Pop the popcorn jethro and don't you dare 'change' the channel...you might learn something!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | February 26, 2008 3:13 PM
I want to remain neutral in this but one obsevation: it appears that Barack has opened up a big ol' can of whoop'ass
Posted by: david | February 26, 2008 4:02 PM
Go Obama!
Posted by: Hannah | February 26, 2008 5:11 PM
Barack and Roll is here to stay. Long live Barack!!!
Obama 2008.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | February 26, 2008 5:25 PM
Clinton will attack--trying to get Obama to over-react.
Clinton will bring up a "surprise" piece of information about Obama and will challenge Obama with it--demanding an answer.
Clinton has wisely avoided the shrieking nag approach in prior debates. She won't avoid it tonight. She needs to land a haymaker. She could lose the whole thing tonight.
Posted by: Harry | February 26, 2008 5:49 PM
I hope Obama has a Come to Jesus meeting with Hillary about her campaign mailers that misrepresented his 2004 comments on NAFTA. ALthough he did state at that time that NAFTA had done some good things, he also AT THE SAME TIME stated that he wanted to see trade agreements for which AMerican Workers and the public contributed, not corporations and lobbyists. Hillary's campaign flyer eliminated all this, of course. How dare she accuse Obama of misrepresenting her NAFTA position. Time to fess up, ole gal.
Posted by: tony | February 26, 2008 7:53 PM
If this was on pay per view...I'd pay!
There is nothing better than seeing two socialist and Marxist lefties do battle...if only Hugo and Fidel could be asking the questions tonight!
Pop the popcorn jethro and don't you dare 'change' the channel...you might learn something!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | February 26, 2008 3:13 PM
Paulo you are truely challenged, or is it handicapable??? p.s. how's the weather under that rock of yours???
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | February 27, 2008 12:00 AM