CNN

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) - Halfway through Sunday's Democratic presidential debate, a key journalist with a front row seat to the proceedings said the candidates were firing on all pistons.

"I think it went great," WMUR's Scott Spradling, who posed questions to the candidates, said after stepping down from his elevated desk that was located in the audience. "You had some great distinguishing characteristics from the major candidates and you got a chance to really hear from Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and Bill Richardson on what they would do on the issues of leadership that they were trying to hammer away on over and over again to try and jump up into the first tier.

"If people were listening for policy they heard it, if they were looking for style points they saw it," Spradling added.

Spradling and the New Hampshire Union Leader's Tom Fahey questioned the candidates in the first half of the debate and WMUR's Jennifer Vaughn is now directing audience questions to the candidates. CNN's Wolf Blitzer is moderating the event.

- CNN Political Editor Mark Preston