Blogging from the Democratic Debate in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER -- Gleanings from the second Democratic presidential debate:

*Obama, Clinton cut it close.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer just opened the debate and all the eight White House hopefuls are standing behind podiums. If you thought this is the kind of important political event where candidates make sure to arrive well in advance -- well, you would be wrong.

The debate started at 7 p.m. and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who spent Saturday in California, flew in on his charter plane, landing somewhere between 5:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. according to Obama New Hampshire spokesman Leslie Miller.

Sen. Hillary Rodham (D-N.Y.) touched down in Manchester near 5 p.m., said spokesman Howard Wolfson.

I spotted Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) eating lunch -- leisurely -- with his family at the Radisson Hotel in the afternoon. I saw former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) leave the Radisson for the debate before 4 p.m.

*Blitzer's rules

Later in the two-hour debate sponsored by CNN/WMUR/Union Leader the set will change and the candidates will switch to chairs.

Blitzer issued this warning to the D-8.
"Candidates must" stay on topic!
If they don't Blitzer said he will stop them.

*European journalists endure no-smoking filing room

There are some 600 journalists who signed up to cover the debate. There are a lot of foreign press here in the media filing center, where I am right now. I am watching the debate on television, as are most reporters. If you thought reporters were observing this all from inside the debate -- nope. But watching on television is a good way to judge what happens because that is what voters see.

Some French reporters stepped outside to smoke.

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