If the debates are about sound bites and communicating, this was a good night for Hillary. Biden and Kucinich continue to exceed expectations and impress listeners, without having any noticeable impact on the polls.
Any of the candidates would do a good job as president, and they all had their moments to shine, or stumble. Is this election really going to turn on drivers licenses?
When one looks at the dynamics between Hillary and Obama, there seems to be an important difference in how they handle each other. Hillary has done a good job of making her effort to break a barrier part of a larger cause to allow someone other than a white male to be President. It isn't only about a woman doing it, it is also about an African American and a Latino being in part of the campaign. Obama is doing something I find quite impressive and important. He is doing for the Democrats what Colin Powell could have done for the Republicans, he is ending our racist exclusion of a talented and large group. Obama has already changed the definition of what is feasible, regardless of the final outcome, and this is a big thing. But in the debate, he did not seem to make much of this, compared to the charming and graceful way that Hillary responded to the "gender" questions.
One name I do not recall mentioned was Giuliani, the likely republican opponent. I would have asked each of the candidates how they would run against Rudy. I would have also asked someone what will be the impact if Bloomberg runs and spends a billion on ads.
My free advice to any candidate is to focus on the public, and how your candidacy will make us safer, economically better off, more free, and prouder. But spare us the pious descriptions of how much more moral and ethical you are than the run of the mill politicians you are running against. Everyone in the race is a politician, and each candidate has plenty of warts and flaws. If you are smart enough and humble enough to see what everyone else sees, then don't make it too easy to be later hoisted on your own petard. The voters aren't looking for the perfect person. We only need a political leader. It's ok if you are a politician. But don't act like a jerk.