CNN

This is all so interesting and in responce to some of the posts..........
Angelina- If a candidate were to use your term " Hillbilly" it would no doubt be construed as "Racist" lamb-bacing the good folk from the hills of Tennesse.

Patricia- I whole heartedly agree Obama lacks experience......on a world scale whereas Hillary has been exposed to it.

K- We are like minded, Hillary as President, Edwards as Vice President....and one would be a fool to think she wouldn't use her husband, an EX President as a sounding board on important issues....the United States of America could do awhole lot worse.....I honestly don't know what all the bickering is all about when under the Presidency of Bill Clinton all Americans prospered especially people of colour "namely" Black and Hispanic.....it should be noted that personally I think you all bring it on yourself....ya reap what you sow......your "Americans" first and foremost.....where your ancestry lys is secondary to your aligence to America the fact that your Black.Spanish, English is immaterial......that underlying stigma of "racism" will always be there.....only time will tell

It's ignorant of those to think that Hillary put John up to any attacks he made on Barack. John Edwards is a man that has his own thoughts and visions and expresses them.

I have to admit, I really do like John Edwards. I just happen to like Hillary a little bit more and am impressed with the facts that she's presented, where as Barack continues to say the same things and never give any substance to them. Words are pretty to listen to, but sometimes numbers are nicer to see as they can add that substance that is lacking.

I hope that Hillary was looking at John as a running mate for November. I think they would make a wonderful team.

Of course she wants him in the race.

Every vote for Edwards is one less for Obama. Hillary has no chance of winning the nomination if Edwards drops out.

I am so disgusted with the Clinton machine. What I saw last night showed me exactly what the Clintons and the democratic machine thinks of African Americans. Bill thinks he is the "massa" of democratic party. This is sick. I am done with the process. But again, that is what they want, for Obama supporters to get pissed off and quit. But what they underestimated is the middle class and upper class African Americans who support Obama will not support Hillary in November.

watching the debate last night, it seems to me that john edwards is the most
sincere of them all, also he gives a straight answer to the questions.

I have watched all three democratic debates in '08 and so far have gone from republican, admittedly mostly out of ignorance, to huge Edwards supporter. He has earned my vote and I have signed up on his website to join his campaign and spread the word about him. It is a shame that more people haven't given him a chance. He shows an amazing amount of passion and to me displays the most willingness to fight for not only change, but improvement for America as a whole!

She wants him to pledge his delegates to her at the convention so that she can win the nomination. Nothing more, nothing less.

What did you think she's doing?

Of course she wants him in the race, she's employing the old "divide and conquer" strategy. Edwards takes votes from Obama for her. I think she and Edwards have a deal where Edwards might be her VP. I found it curious that Edwards, who had been attacking Clinton and almost siding with Obama up to this point, all of a sudden began attacking Obama last night and siding with Clinton. Up to this point, we'd beenhearing how "the boys" were picking on Hillary. Now it looks like Edwards and Clinton ganged up on Obama. I just lost alot of respect for John Edwards. I will never vote for Clinton or anybody who backs her.

I think the real issues are who is the most electable and who would change the world view of America? Senator Obama is without a doubt the most electable and his victory would show that America has evolved from a racist, imperialistic nation into one that is open and accepting to new ideas and change. Senator Clinton CAN NOT win a general election... Republicans despise her and having a white woman would not change America's standing in the world.

I can definitely see why she would want him around. Her victories have been very close and not substantial enough. If Edward were to drop out of the race, I believe the majority of his potential votes would go to Obama and not Hillary. Thus having him around is giving her an edge.

1. While I think Edwards is more deserving, I think Obama would be the better VP choice in order to ensure a non-divisive party going into Nov. and guarantee that black people vote.

2. I think Edwards takes votes away from Hillary, not Obama. because Edwards and Hillary both appeal to the traditional Dem base.

As we all know, (and it is the main focus of the media) , that this is a historical time in US history, Black male, female candidate, however, I for one can not and will not just sit back and relish it. Unfortunately this time around, we can not afford to continue to focus on that because, right now we are in the fight of our lives. It will go down in history either way, but we really truly need to look beyond all of that and get very serious! How many times will I hear that someone will vote for BO or HC because of their chances of election!!! that's so over! I personally support John Edwards, not because he is white, not because he is a man, not because his dear wife has cancer, not because I want him to be a spoiler or a king maker. It is because I have been diligent in listening to the candidates intently, exploring the records, consistancies and very importantly, not just what they say but their ideas on how to do things. Please, what ever you do in this election, don't pass up this opportunity to make an informed decison, then vote with conviction, not popularity, not what the media guides you to do but what you have a right to do with pride.

Clinton and Obama, both must play nice with Edwards becasue he is the key to victory. If Edwards fails to win the party, he becomes the King maker. Who ever accepts him as VP or puts his issues on the from burrner will get his votes and win the party. That is whats really going on and Edwards will stay in the race past Super Tuesday, Just watch and see.

Yeah, he might decide instead of being a kingmaker (when Rezko hits the fan shortly and the Farrakhan heat gets hotter at TUCC-Chicago) to becoming a Queenmaker. But he would be a better VP under her than swiftboat Kerrey. Besides, this would get even with Kerrey for kicking him to the curb. He even looks like the Jack of Diamonds.

I'm an Indonesian man and live in Jakarta. Well, I heard the very young Obama had lived and studied here in my hometown. For me, he is no Kennedy. There's only one JFK and he is a living memory. Even Edward could be pictured closer to JFK than Obama, but the truth, the former first Lady will deliver during US economic and fiscal turbulency. See US economic statistics during Bill rules. The new kid on the block has nothing to give, compares to her brilliant advices to her reigning husband in the white house, except some stories in the oval room.... Thanks CNN for posting this.

Well Schneider, you like to take things out of context don't you? Hillary was commenting on the fact that the candidates were made up of a woman, an African American, and a Son of the South. And that MLK would have been proud to see it.

Think about it Schneider. This group as presidential candidates would have been unthinkable back in 1968 when MLK was around. The fact that it exists at all is evidence of the positive effects Dr. King's efforts achieved, and it was a fitting commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Why does CNN have to draw such ridiculously cynical and stupid conclusion, "Hillary Clinton is playing nice with John Edwards." Schneider, you are way off base.

And you all yourself a political anlayst . . .

I think Hillary was being respectful calling John Edwards the "son of the south". Obama was referring that we have a woman, a black man, and John. I think Hillary was being more graceful when it was her turn to speak. I don't think she was necessarily playing nice. I found that both Hillary and John pointed out the discrepancies in Obama's 100 present votes issue and his universal healthcare plan that differs from their's which leaves out 15 million people.

Edwards and Clinton appear to be courting each other for the same ticket. Clinton wants Edwards to stick around through Super Tuesday to split the anti-Clinton vote and hurt Obama. Once Obama is out of the picture, Clinton will invite Edwards to join her as VP.

Chris-Did you forget that when Perot was competing against Bill Clinton it was the general election NOT the primary. I am tired of people saying Edwards is "taking away" votes from Obama. It's a primary, you can't compare the two, apples and oranges in my book.

What about Barack and Edwards ganging up on Hillary in previous debates?

Obama could not answer the questions and deserved to be taken on. Where will the money come from for his plans, he never answered. Instead he started another sermon. I get that in Church, I don't need that from him. Obama also could not answer the present question to my satisfaction and he deserved to have to account for it. Vote yes or no, not maybe!

Does he really think that most young people think they need health care? They think that they are invinsible, and won't need it till they are older. How can you mandate thet children get care, but their parents can choose not to?

To get back to the question....if you can't answer a question or your policy or plans differ then it is fair game to debate them. Since Hillary and Edwards agreed somewhat on those policies, why not!

If all watch these debates carefully, John Edwards is the most calm, assertive and earnest candidate. While the media portrays barak and hillary as the "front runners" both of whom are entrenched in their sex and race politics, neither attract the independents, and undecided voters. John Edwards is still the original, authentic and best suited to fight and win in November. He emulates the rags to riches, in your face fight that we have longed for and never had from teh Democrats. How can the Democrats get so caught up with sex and race? Look at all of these candidates and not just those hailed by corporate media.. John Edwards is the Voice of Change and will continue to impact change for the foreseeable future. Vote for John Edwards Democrats! Only Edwards can bring national victory to the democrats in november!

Maybe she was just trying to be inclusive, as opposed to Obama's dismissive reference to 'the first female & first black, & oh yeah, John's in the race, too.' Clinton & Edwards both have a legitimate claim to understanding SC's voters' concerns by virtue of their own personal experiences spanning decades. Obama can only claim to have heard of, or read of, the history of life in the South for poor blacks & women. We need someone with "street cred," not just academics.

You better bet Hillary wants Edwards to stick around so she doesn't have to go one on one with Obama.

I don't think Hillary is worried about John Edwards, SC is not the only state voting, it just happens to be next. Hillary will survive SC the question is will Edwards? I will be shocked if he makes it to super Tuesday. He has run a good campain and I do not dislike him in any way. The problem for him is something he can't control and that is the making of history.

Hillary is a racist! She is going to edwards to undermine sen.obama.shame on her!

As I watched the debate, especially in the contentious first half, I thought Clinton and Edwards forged a certain bond against Obama. At times, Obama looked flustered, not knowing which way to turn to get criticized.

I would not be surprised, if Edwards suffers too many more primary losses, to see Clinton asking Edwards to be her running mate.

Barack Obama is a great speech maker. I believe he'll make it there one day, but I support Hillary, as I think she's most in touch with and best-equipped with experience and understanding, to win the nomination and get all the way there. I want to know if they'll entertain a Clinton/Edwards or Clinton/Obama ticket?

The real issues far outweigh the political sparring that occurred in South Carolina tonight. This should be a campaign about substance rather than rhetoric. Unfortunately, Obama is full of rhetoric, but has very little substance. He has no real positions and no real solutions proposed that make any sense whatsoever. There's so much more to solving this country's problems than "wanting to unite" all Americans and politically "flip flop" at every turn. Read between the lines. The current entltlement programs today will simply be expanded under Obama. Who will pay? The same middle America he says he wants to advantage and save!! Give me a break. We need to create "universal" prosperity rather than continue for many to rely on entitlements. More working Americans rather than handouts will bring pride, build more personal and national capital, engage the channels necessary to, at a fair cost, educate more people so they become capable of employing their intelligence to help rebuild the fiber of our World Class country as well as overcome the huge capital deficit being left behind by the unethical and immoral Bush administration. People in America should be living in unprecedented good times with empowered freedoms rather than financial obscurity and overwhelming fear.

Is this a trick question? Hillary will do or say whatever it takes to win.

I don't think Clinton meant anything by calling him the "son of the south" Obama came across to me as very arrogant and not wanted to take account for his record. I think Obama did fair, Clinton did better (and stronger than Obama) and clearly John Edwards did the best.

Clinton did really good on healthcare issue (that is her baby)...Obama did good with his comments on "injustice" towards african americans, and he will win South Carolina because of the strong african american population. Hillary keeps on with her "35 years experience" is a little old, but it works for me. I think Hillary Clinton did well tonight. She didn't provoke the personal sparring tonight, Obama started it-it was pretty exciting though!!!

WHY THE HECK I AM I SEEING OBAMA 'S AD ON NATIONAL TV IN THE PRIMARIES, I LIVE IN EAST TEXAS???? THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE BLOGGING ABOUT, BILL!!!

AFTER THE THRASHING HE GAVE OBOMA ON HIS EMPTY WORDS YOU BET SHE WANTS HIM AROUND AND SO DO I,

GO HILLARY

Edwards is the key to the election.

Neither Hillary or Obama can win without his endorsement.

Each has slightly less than half of the Democratic support. Whoever woos Edwards gets the delegates to put them over the top.

So, no wonder Hillary is making all kissy-face with Johny-boy.

She wants his delegates, plain and simple.

I believe it is accurate to say that Edwards is a 'Son of the South', as compared to the other candidates! Why? Well, Edwards was born in South Carolina, whereas Obama was born in Hawaii and Hillary in Illinois.

Obama is the only candidate that will bring real positive change to this country!

After the Iowa election, these candidates went on MSNBC for a debate and Edwards was so supportive of Obama. After Hillary won N.H and Nevada, he is on her side (evidently so at this S.C debate). What a loser!

I thought Clinton and Edwards did well. Obama seemed a little flustered.

Since he left office in 2001, former president Bill Clinton has been paid by $3.3 million by InfoUSA, an Omaha, Nebraska company that has been identified as a key provider of specially designed databases that have been sold to criminals who use the detailed information to defraud the unsuspecting elderly.

The consulting fees to the former president were only part of the largess InfoUSA showered on the former president.

Vinod Gupta, the CEO of InfoUSA, lent the Clintons the company's jet which took them to places like Switzerland, Hawaii, Jamaica and Mexico.

The jet service was worth a staggering $900,000.

And Gupta gave the Clinton library a six-figure gift as well. Indeed, just months after he left the presidency, Bill Clinton was paid $200,000 for a speech given to InfoUSA in Omaha.

InfoUSA is not the kind of company with which a former president and the husband of a presidential candidate should associate.

According to the The New York Times, InfoUSA compiled and sold lists that disclosed the names of elderly men and women who would be likely to respond to unscrupulous scams.

The lists left no doubt about the vulnerability of the elderly targets.

The Times reported, for example, that InfoUSA advertised lists of "Elderly Opportunity Seekers," 3.3 million older people "looking for ways to make money," and "Suffering Seniors," 4.7 million people with cancer or Alzheimer's disease. "Oldies but Goodies" contained 500,000 gamblers over 55 years old, for 8.5 cents apiece. One list said: "These people are gullible. They want to believe that their luck can change."

InfoUSA sold lists to companies that were under investigation or closed down by courts because of their criminal activity. The company's internal emails show that employees were aware that the investigation for elderly fraud involved their customers, but sold the lists anyway.

The Times profiled one unfortunate 92-year-old man who entered a sweepstakes sponsored by InfoUSA. The information that he innocently provided was then sold to the predator marketers. After responding to their telemarketing calls seeking financial information, his entire life savings was stolen from his bank account at Wachovia Bank. These practices, using lists supplied by InfoUSA, were repeated all over the country.

Last week, Hillary Clinton sought and obtained an extension of time to file her presidential candidate financial disclosure statement.

Unlike the information required of Senators, this filing requires her to list not just the sources of Bill's income but exactly how much they paid him.

While Senator Clinton offered no reason for the postponement, one cannot help wondering if a desire to conceal InfoUSA's payments to her husband while the company is under fire.

The extent of the company's payments to Bill only came out as a result of a lawsuit by disgruntled stockholders against the company management.

The relationship between Bill Clinton and Vinod "Vin" Gupta, the CEO and Chairman of InfoUSA is both long-standing and deep.

A frequent Clinton donor, he has stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom, admitted to donating $1,000,000 to the Clinton Library and told the press that he'd consider an additional donation.

Again, since the Clintons refuse to disclose who donated money to the library, we don't know the total that he actually gave. In late 1999, Gupta gave $2,000,000 for Hillary Clinton's Millennium New Year's Eve bash. (They party cost $16 million and was closed to the press!)

The links between Gupta and the Clintons are extensive:

Gupta raised over $200,000 for Hillary's Senate campaigns and contributed thousands to the DNC and Democratic House and Senate campaigns.

InfoUSA was one of the sponsors of the Aspen Festival of Ideas last summer where Bill and Hillary Clinton both spoke.

Gupta built the Bill Clinton Science & Technology Center and the Hillary Clinton Mass Communications Center in his hometown of Rampur, India.

Bill and Gupta traveled to India together.

Gupta reportedly paid for a golf outing for Bill at a legendary Scottish course.

InfoUSA appointed Terry McAuliffe, the Clinton's longtime moneyman to the Board of Directors of its subsidiary company videoyellowpagesusa.com.

Clinton appointed Gupta to the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees only a few days before he left office.

Clinton also nominated Gupta as Consul General of Bermuda and U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, but Gupta was never confirmed.

Gupta's company co-sponsored the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative.

Gupta sent a $7000 treadmill to Chappaqua days after the Clintons left the White House. After the New York Post disclosed the gift, the Clintons returned the gift.

Gupta's generosity to the Clintons is only matched by his generosity to himself. InfoUSA has lately been attacked by some of its shareholders, particularly by the Greenwich, Connecticut company Cardinal Capital that went after Conrad Black. Lord Black is now on trial in Chicago for corporate fraud.

Cardinal Capital objected to Gupta's purchase of a $600,000 skybox at the University of Nebraska, his family's charges of $13.5 million in private jet charges, and $2.5 million for the long term lease of a yacht – all with corporate funds.

In addition to his 2001 visit to the company's headquarters, Bill Clinton was back there to speak at a conference on privacy issues in September 2006. Senator Clinton's disclosure statement for that period has not been publicly released, so we don't know how much he was paid.

This connection between the Clintons and InfoUSA only underscores the necessity of full disclosure of income sources and amounts by all the presidential candidates and the release of their income tax returns, a step Mrs. Clinton has, thus far, refused to take.

It looks like a Clinton/Edwards ticket so far. Obama look defensive and frustraded. Might have to wait a few more years to enter the white house.

This is sad because NO ONE seems to have ears so they can hear or eyes so they can see. This is not about BILL and Hillary this about our children and their chldren's future. It is a statistical fact. (Check the records) That the country as a whole has been better off when a democrat is President . What the Clintons are doing is dividing the party and under estimating the riff they will cause when it is time for a primary fight. If Bill is running NOW his record will come up in the primary. If he was so GOOD why are we suffering SOOOOOO much NOW?????

Looking at just one problem. The United States needs free health care for all. There are smart cards (what credit cards will be one day soon) that are available that will say who or who not are illegal Americans – look at Canada, Great Britian, France, Denmark, Sweden, Cuba and the list goes on – all with healthier populations and rich doctors without keeping health care from all. Insurance and pharmaceutical companies are making the big bucks at the expense of everyone. Doctors should be about care giving, not care taking...there's money enough for all. The amount spent on the illigal war in Iraq would help to take care of universal health care and higher education, better housing and also to develop alternative energy sources and to force the American auto makers to reduce the fuel consumptions of the cars they manufacture...new technology is there. Mr. Clinton was a good president for the USA. Hiliary has his guidance...its a good thing. I do think that Obama is charming and witty! He'd make a great VP and politican to help with how the rest of world now feels about the USA. You have lost a lot of respect out there.
Whatever....just don't let the Republicans back in. God Bless America we love you..we just don't like your present President and his policies.

Of course Hillary wants Edwards to stay in the race, it will be easier to beat him.

I fundamentally disagree with the assumption that a John Edwards vote would go to Obama. Those who believe that John Edwards is sharing the anti-Hillary vote with Obama are missing the fact that he is actually sharing the traditional populist democratic voters (the press would say "union," "blue collar," or more insensitively "down scale") with Hillary. With Edwards out of the race, those hard-core traditional democrats will turn to Clinton. And I think that is what happened in the Nevada caucus locations where Edwards was not viable.

I am liking Edwards more and more. Hillary was accepting the help that Edwards was providing for his own needs. He's the underdog & the only way he's going to stay in the race is to make gains against Obama first, then Hillary.

I think it is pathetic that after George Bush and Carl Rove divided our country into the red and blue states,and the evangelicals and the non believers that now the Democrats are dividing us between gender and race. John Edwards is the only one that is passioate about what is good for ALL Americans!!

When you look at the issues the end results for Obama and Clinton are similar. It's how they get to the ends that may be different. So, with that in mind, I'm all for seeing a WOMAN in the white house in my life time. Hey, we've tried it with men, so let's give a woman a chance. Let's see the difference in style, attitude and strength. Of all the women over the years that had a chance due to their public service, Hillary has gone further than any one of them. AND, she's done that in a MAN-world that takes sexist snipes at her and degrades her WOMAN-world. Can't get much tougher than she is to have gotten as far as she has!!!

Hillary Clinton speaks with a forked tounge and Edwards is in it at this point due to ego. He'll drop out after doing poorly in South Carolina. Right now he's just a spoiler for Obama, the only thing holding him back from the ticket.

Obama is the best leader this country has seen since FDR. He's visionary. He's incredible. I can't wait for him to be sworn in.

I have said this from the very start. Obama is not ready yet for such a heavy and important position. He needs to grow some more, maybe after two terms of Hillary, he can pick up the baton.

Mr. Schneider, I do agree with your observertion, that Sen. Clinton is interested in Edwards presens in the trail. He clearly is more appealing to the same group of voters as Obama is.

@Donne: Please, before you claim that Mr. Schneider does not like Obama, please make sure you are not basing that opinion on only one or maybe two statements, when in other statements he is complimenting Obama.

Please keep it on the issues at hand, will you?

Greetings from Cologne, Germany

She will use anything and anyone...........that is her way flip flopping.......that is HILLYBILLY

she is so afraid of Senator Obama............ and of the people.

I think the Clintons are being too pushy and it is pushing me away. I thought they were more skillful and professional then that.

Hillary, please stop playing 2 on 1 and go after your opponent yourself. During tonight’s debate, you did not have Bill up there with you so you used John to help make your point(s).

I like John Edwards more and more as this campaign goes on. He is a democratic candidate with the most electability against the Republicans. The democratic party must win this election!

Hillary playing nice with Edwards is not particularly convincing – sticky sweet pandering. What you'd expect form someone who changes her personality over night and finds her voice at this late date.

Yes but only tonight because she needs to look nice to the Senator from the South. but soon enought she will kick him and knock him down... that is her way to deal with oponnents, uses dirty tricks.............not an honest person.

When this campaign started, I planned on voting for Hllary if Obama did not get the nomination. My mind has changed. I no longer will vote for her & my feelings about Bill are starting to change too. Sad, sad. They can run a campaign without the bashing and underhanded tricks they are playing.

Neither confronted Edwards on his past record versus his platform. Could he be the only one that is leading a truthful campaign?

It's been pretty clear for months that CNN is the Clinton News Network as previously alleged. They do anything to boost Hillary. Too bad.

Obama is a once in a lifetime chance and as an independent, I'd like the chance to vote for him for president.

True!
She knows that this is a 3 way race and that Edwards is a real threat to he and Obama. The rest of the country just don't get it yet!

It's interesting that the only comments that are made here are about Clinton. Questions posed by Bill Schneider about Obama and Edwards have 0 comments.
Clearly, the candidate to beat is Hillary Clinton. She is the only one taking fire because the Hillary haters only concentrate on spewing venom at her. They are not seriously interested in what the other canidates are saying and have no positive comments about the other two.
They don't really care about who the candidate is as long as it's not her. So much for being involved in the political process.
It could be Joe the garbage collector – they wouldn't care.
It's laughable!!

She may not win SC and so she hopes to hand votes to Edwards and make it a three man tango. As someone else wrote it worked for Bill in 92 when Perot sucked votes from Bush, Sr.

By the way, this is the best debate that Edwards has had in a long time!

Hillary the CHAMP!!!

I like Edwards a lot but how can he say he has spent his whole life fighting poverty when he pays $500 for a haircut. Spread the wealth.

Edwards will be a much better president that Obama or Clinton because he is the only one not taking the majority of his money from lobbiest. Edwards is not in debt to the lobbiest like Obama and Clinton.

Those two jackels seem to be trying to double team Barack. I am not sure what they are trying to set up. Be suspicious , very suspicious.

Why does Hillary need Bill to defend HER and attack Obama? To be the dirty tricks guy, so she won't have to? Is she not strong enough on her own? That's what it looks like and sounds like, to me, and I'm really disappointed. Are Democrats trying to shoot themselves in the foot AGAIN? At this rate, things will be going downhill in the weeks to come. Typical.

She is nice to Edwards because she is not threatened by him. He is not her competition. Obama is. she is coming off like a total shrew! If Obama spoke to her and interrupted her the way she has him he would be called a bully.

I think Mr. Edwards should remain in the race. As a former lawyer he knows how the system in Washington works. Where as MS. Clinton is a con artist. She knows what people want to hear. Mr. Obama will be eaten alive by corporate Washington crooks. I did not like how the Clinton administration destroy the Whitehouse on their last day. No respect. So go Edwards. His wife has class.

She is using skilled tactics to win, maybe Obama should start the same if he wants to play!

Moderation?? Oh, no, we need to be STRONGLY committed to the democratic process. AND, we need to be committed to not letting our democratic process to allow for the injustices that are occuring now: gap between those who have and those have not, the issues of war, illegal immigration, etc. We need not be moderate!!!

Hillary and John has to worry about the two other candidates while Barack has to contend with three.

I don't agree with Hillary on many things but in response to her wanting to keep Edwards around, I do!
Not only is he the "son of the south", but clearly would be the best leader we've had in years!
We can't afford to lose him!

Hillary would like both Obama and Edwards to drop out. Hillary can side step the issues, about her husband, and everything else, and to get down to the trueth, she is for herself to be president not the American people. Her sixteen years she claims for experence is becoming a side stepping President, wait and see.

edwards voters are evenly split between clinton and obama....

I think the fact that we have a black man, a white woman, and a white man on the same stage is remarkable. We have made great strides and here is why. Barack won IOWA (Not alot of black people) and Hillary is doing well in South Carolina (Very black supported state for democrats) and John Edwards, is actually bringing up the most issues that affect blacks. I am proud of each of them, and the fact that I as an African American can sit here and write this comment without fear of lynching, I make over 6 figures, I graduated from both an HBCU and a non HBCU and I live in a neighborhood that is mixed, and I work for a company that is embracing diversity. I say today on Kings birthday, thank God for the road we have traveled, for the path we are on, and for the future we will have together, WHITE, BLACK, MUSLIM, JEW, MAN, WOMAN

Hillary just argued with Edwards. The media is so biased against Hillary.

Whether Hillary wants Edwards to stick around or not is beside the point. Edwards is head and shoulders above her and Obama. He has specific plans that are influenced by his up close and personal experience that influence his policies for ending inequality and poverty in America.

How many times is he going to say that he is from South Carolina, the only time that he is in SC is when he is campaigning otherwise he is in his compound home in North Carolina. He is the reason why health care is so expensive because of his days as a trial lawyer.

I could care less if Hillary wants John Edwards to stay or not. The point is that a lot of Americans want him to stay in. He is our best hope to beat the Republicans and get us out of the mess that Bush/Cheney has put us in.

Obama is running against Bill because Bill is running as the Co-President with Hillary. She is running on his record, this is what she quotes as the great times of the Clinton era.

If everyone is giving John Edwards a good hard look , I hope you see that he might be the answer instead of the other two who are more interested in being a woman or black. hooray for John

Hillary isn't a fool. She don't want to be beat by obama. If she can't win in the south she don't want to have obama get another win and look strong. I will have to give this to obama. He is still strong in light of Bill Clintons propaganda.

John Edwards has said the least but has emerged as the strongest!!

Are you kidding? Hillary can battle with the best of these guys. She isn't being soft. You sound like a MAN!!!!! EE gad.

Yes, in responce to your statement.....Hillary wants Edwards as her running mate.
I would just like to add people would be getting a double return casting a vote for her.

I hope John and Obama pair up and take all of the votes from Hillary!!!
They are our best shot at getting elected. Believe me...middle America does not plan on voting for Hillary!

Of course Hillary wants Edwards to stick around- the longer he's in, the longer she can hang even with Obama.

I agree, Scheneider is reading too much in the son of the south comment. Each candidate were addessing race and gender and Obama had already used "white male" when referring to Edwards so the next available comment is "son of the south. We should keep in mind that many sons of the south have been President but women and African Americans have not have this privilege, for the most part.

This is a CBC debate, there should be more discussion on the question of HIV/AIDS, the drop-out rate, and employment issues. Why waste time on a question such as was Bill Clinton the first Black President. You should save that for the post-debate interviews.

So much for playing nice with John. Now it is trial lawyers who have funded John. Lobbyist leading Barraks campaign. She is going on too long while ignoring her PAC and special interest funding.

THE TICKET FOR 08-–CLINTON/EDWARDS–FANTASTIC TEAM

Seriously, someone tell Hillary how to dress. Her outfit is outdated, dowdy, and frumpy. Issues aside, I won't vote for her because she has no sense of how to dress for the year 2008!!!!

And on the contrary, Obama is being completely disrespectful to Hillary. Has anyone else noticed that when Edwards is speaking, Obama will watch him and nod in agreement at times, even joking with him occasionally, but when Clinton speaks, he looks down, disinterested, never concedes agreement, never even looks at her or makes eye contact, let alone share humor with her. He's being immature, disrespectful and unpresidential. Everyone up there deserves respect as a minimum courtesy, and Edwards and Clinton have both given that to their competitors. I was on the fence between Obama and Hillary, but this is a real turn off.

What elected offices has Hillary Clinton (not Bill Clinton) held the last 16 years. I would understand six years fighting the Republicans, plus ten more watching my husband fight the Republicans. She seems to consistently count the years she spent as a wife in the white house. What office would Hillary be holding if she weren't married to a President????? We seem to forget that Bill Clinton isn't running again (unfortunately).

Is anyone else like me that thinks she may have him for a running mate when she makes the Democratic Nomination? I almost think they would make a good team for the Republican canidate because those who dont like Hillary usually like John Edwards.

I think it's shameful that the Clinton-ites think that to be a "real Democrat" you have to worship Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton has acted shameful in the past few weeks of this campaign. His comments and the way the Clintons are conducting their campaign are diving Democrats.

This "real Democrat" is ready for an Obama or Edwards presidency.

NOT SO NICE RIGHT NOW!! HILLARY IS ATTACKING EDWARDS

clinton wants edwards there. why? so that she can win.

If you look closely Mr.Obama understands issues from a grass root level and seems to be well prepared to address those issues, starting now with debates but likely with actions later. I believe US needs a President with his kind of thinking and vision.

Read the Rip Off reports on our congress!

Obama won this debate, and I am now all out for Obama.!!!

What I do not understand is this; if the candidates do not want to talk about race or gender then why in the world is CNN having a discussion following this debate.

Is a Clinton-Edwards ticket an insane but plausible possibility?

Of course she does...he siphons votes from barack thereby helping her in the long run.

I just made my first every campaign contribution – to John Edwards Campaign. I did it while listening to the debate. I'm sick and tired of listening to Hillary and Obama argue. Go JOHN EDWARDS!!!!!!

Hillary answers very few if any questions that she's asked. She skips around but the question never gets answered.

If Hilary TAPS, who gets her votes: Edwards or Obama?
If she wins, who does she pick as her VP?

If Edwards TAPS, who gets his votes: Hillary or Obama?
If he wins, who does he pick as his VP?

If Obama TAPS who gets his votes: Hillary or Edwards
If he wins, who does he pick as his VP?

John is just going to take votes away from Hillary and then he will be gone!

I think she just wanted to have a better response than Obama, because he said John.
Hillary is just trying to not sound petty and combative thats all.

I hope John does stick around. They are all superior candidates and it's too soon to toss one under the bus.

Real Democrats mean real liberals- not those who support the conservative Bill Clinton. We like him only because he is so much better than Bush II. He's going after Bill because Bill's been lying about Obama's record, and because Obama is the one candidate who can bring the country together- caring for all Americans, Democrat, Republican, and Whatever. He has the record and the rhetoric to show that. Edwards and Hillary don't- and Bill and Hillary, even if they wanted to, can't, because they're so hated by Republicans. They're engaged in the same partisan politics we've had for decades, and can't escape.

We can only hope that he'll be taking those votes away from hillary.

Obama scares me with the "present" not wanting to take a stand on issues. We need someone that will stand up for ALL the American people.

That's the reason i lean strongly towards Barak of those 3, is for that fact. He never "starts" the finger pointing. Same reason I don't like Hillary, she always starts it. She loves the dirty politics, and Barak does not. That governs alot of my respect.

Im curious why Edwards gave so much respect to Mcain there? and not romney?
Maybe stategic, as the dems have a better chance of beating Mcain, so they wanna pump him up, instead of romney? interesting tho.

This reminds me of Rudy Guliani talking nice about the Red Sox.

she just want Edwards to win in S.C so the she can take weakned obama on Feb 5th. She knows for sure that Edwards can't win on his own on Feb 5th.

Since neither Senator Clinton nor Senator Obama, in my opinion, would never concede to being Vice-President, it's most likely that John Edwards will be the VP nominee should one of them be the Presidential nominee. John Edwards, however, is looking more and more presidential. The gingham dog and the calico cat may cancel each other out leaving the way clear for John Edwards. I've been increasingly impressed with him.

Bill, Hillary needs to tell her husband to step to the side right now. Because if she doesn't he will cause her to lose this.

Edwards has an amazing ability to stick it to his opponents without coming across as shrill or caddy.

the Clinton machine understands that in order to beat John Mc Cain, it can't be Barrack ( sorry man), at least not quit yet.

There is one sort of body language thing I find disturbing. Obama frequently pats Edwards on the back, on the arm, etc., in a way that Edwards could not do to Obama, because it would be seen as patronizing. That's not fair; that's one way race is an unspoken issue, used by Obama.

just remember people...when the candidate is chosen...they will ALL shake hands, support their candidate and take on the Republicans.
This is the sport of politics.

If Hillary loses...I will of coarse vote for Obama or, Edwards...right now...they are the ones I'm rooting against.

But, the BIG picture here is that when it comes time to elect a president who will be picking our supreme court justices next term...I DO NOT WANT IT TO BE A REPUBLICAN.
You think you don't like Hillary?...what happens when the neo-cons try to turn America in to a censored Christian Disneyland?
Say goodbye to womens rights...say goodbye to free speech...Say goodbye to the middle class!

Fight for your candidate...but, rember...once we leave the boxing ring...we shake hands and live to fight bigger battles.

Rarely tonight have any of the candidates answered the question that was asked. Why can't you hold them accountable to answer what was asked. It is a waste of time to ask a question, and not have them answer the question. A true leader would answer a direct question! It is disappointing to watch this, and never hear someone truly answer a question. CNN is responsible for letting this happen.

Sure she wants him to stick arround so that when he pulls out , his voters crossover to her votes. She is just doing kissup.

Of course Hillary wants Edwards to stick around. He has been the difference or close to it in her wins. She knows if he drops those votes go to Obama and it will be enough to beat her.

Yeah but that phrasing is a reminder to non whites that he is a "son of the south". And that is not a good reminder... in all communities.

of course she does! as long as it's helping her by taking votes from Obama.

SHe wants him around because it's taking away votes from Obama.

Shes not "making nice." She is making smart political moves that will lead to winning the nomination and white house! GO HILLARY!

This part of the debate is very boring. They are all just giving stump speeches. I am really tired of Obama's rhetoric about bringing the nation together. It sounds so nice, but he clearly does not understand his opponents. He doesn't know what will hit him when the Republicans go after him. I think only Hillary can really take them on.

Just wait, that's coming out of one side of her mouth.
Give her a chance to speak out of the other side, or she'll have Bill do that for her.
How conVEEEEnient!

Of course Hillary wants Edwards to stay in. She's been winning over Obama by fairly slim margins, and if Edwards pulls out, Obama will pick up a lot of those votes.

Of course she wants Edwards in the race. He takes votes away from Obama. She needs him in there for her to win. It's pathetic.

I think its clear that Bill Schneider doesn"t like Obama. Obama on race wgereas he gave good caption on Clinton and Edward. clinton plays nice, Edward skillful response. please chose to be a free- minded reporter. We are all assessing you too.

That is a sad attempt to out Obama... us versus him.
Not working...

If he sticks around, that is less votes that Obama will get. As she is probably thinking those who vote for Edwards will vote for Obama if he drops out.

HIllary is playing nice with Edwards because she is making sure the focus stays 2v1 on Obama.

Mr Shneider, while making an accurate observation, is reading far too much. John Edwards is a 'son of the south'. This does not mean that she wants him around in this election, it means that she is aware of his history. I don't believe that Hillary has any expectation that John will win based upon his home region. I am more lacking in Mr. Schneider's reporting skills rather than the fitness of the candidates he is reporting on.

Bill, she does want him in the race. He takes votes away from Obama. Like Bill wanted Perot in 92.

I don't understand the connection between calling him a "son of the south," and wanting him to stick around in a Democratic Primary race...

Of course she does, to be HER vice-president! GO HILLARY!

Oddly enough we take down the rules and the candidates play nice. What bothers me Bill though is that everyone wants to stop the Hill and Bill power team but it seems to me that if Barbara was just a bit more powerful as a first lady this country might be better off because President Bush certainly cannot run it.

Clinton's Economic Plan Also Hit Seniors With $56 Billion In Medicare Cuts And HillaryCare Proposed An Additional $124 Billion In Cuts. "Moreover, seniors, who were hit by $56 billion in Medicare cuts in Mr. Clinton's recently enacted economic plan, are already riled by his proposal to finance health reform with another $124 billion in Medicare trims. 'Many seniors feel like they were double-crossed (then). They know you don't put your hand on the stove twice to know it's hot,' said [William Ritz of the Washington-based National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare]." (Karen Riley, "Health Plan's Fate Hinges On Who Benefits," The Washington Times, 9/20/93)

why is obama going after bill??? he is pushing the real dems away....GO HILLARY!!!!

Edwards is going be around for a long time. All the way to November. Edwards can beat any republican in November.

Obviously Edwards was born there.

Schenider, so you can read Hillary's MIND now? Pathetic.

Of course Hillary wants him there. Having 2 supports to lash back on is better then just 1.

Edwards needs to step aside he is fighting a battle he CANNOT WIN!!!!!!

Obama = Hefty dose of Rozerem ......Zzzzz

He continues to talk, talk, talk about nothing.

clinton is hoping that edwards will take some of obama's votes.
maybe even becoming her vp on the ticket. as it was hinted earlier in the race that edwards was going to be on obama's ticket.

edwards seems to be holding all the cards.

She needs him to stick around because the way she has twisted what Barack has said, will make John strong, before she and Bill go after him.

Obama did call them out early on in the debate. Both had to go on the defensive. Honestly, what happened to the troubling tactics that were asserted?

"Re-draw the politcal map!" Quote Obama. This is the single most important comment of the evening! The democrats must do more than win the White House.

Of course she does – Edwards saps more votes away from Obama than from Clinton.

As Edwards erodes at Obama's lead he never manages to catch him before Obama gets boosted- but eats away at Obama4America so much Clinton retakes the lead.

Edwards is bouncing back and forth from debate to debate.

Thanks Bill Schneider. You are the best. Your comments are very objective.

CNN needs more objective like you.

That, or she's pointing out that he has had the least amount of adversity in his life being a white southern male.

You bet she is...Edwards could win in South Carolina. And, that could knock Obama out of the race. It was a gesture to garner votes for him.

Of course she wants him to stick around. Hillary is the polarizing candidate–people have made their decisions about her already. Most of Edwards' supporters would go to Obama.

Maybe to use the don't know votes to swing her way...

Poor Obama seems to be struggling....

clinton/edwards 2008

Of course she wants him to stick around. As long as he is in this race, Hillary will have an easy in as president. The "change" vote is split between Obama and Edwards – and that split is a direct benefit to Hillary.

I feel bad for Obama because I think the polls would tell a very different story without Edwards. Edwards is Hillary's ticket to win.

Well duh. If Edwards drops out, Obama is far more likely to benefit than she is.

Votes for him are not votes for Obama, i truely feel they would work well together and it shows well tonight.

John is much better than Obama. Obama needs to grow some more.

Surely. He is the one, she could go along with as Presidential pair. They should hold strong and fight against each other.

Obama's started WHINING WHINING about Bill Clinton. Check out Obama becoming a child before our very eyes!!

her v.p,

I think it's less that she wants him to stick around in the race, but she wants to stay on good terms with him, so he could potentially be her VP.