Lisa
NC

First, my opinions about Clinton have nothing to do with Obama and vice versa. If Clinton or Obama were running against "Candidate X", my feelings would be the same.

I have wanted to embrace Clinton, or at least feel ambivalent, but the more I learn, remember and research, the more impossible that becomes. It has nothing to do with my being a woman, it has to do with my intense discomfort with the unending scandals, investigations, questionable dealings and serious contradictions, not to mention manipulative campaign tactics. I am not comfortable, though, being a woman and a mother of 2 daughters, with the idea of having a female president because she married into the head of the pack. I don't like that message for the girls of this country. I regret that Mrs. Clinton cannot stand on being where she is by her own, individual merits. I am not comfortable that she was grandfathered into politics, which gave her enormous advantages over others with better records and judgment and cleaner histories and much harder work. Clinton is a consummate politician, but she is not a leader and she is not someone I would want my daughters to look up to, because I don't think personal success at any cost is right or commendable. Her good works can't be discounted, but I am discouraged that they are cloaked around the sense that she would drop them if they were not politically valuable.

On top of that, there is a gut reaction which is entirely unscientific, and possibly entirely unfair, but its there. Her body language, gestures, what she says and how she says them just reek of plasticity and self-interest. I cannot shake the sense, when I take into account Clinton's actions with her words, tactics and history, I see someone who is focused on her empowerment and victory, not the empowerment and victory of the country.

There are so many significant red flags and questions that just leave me with a very bad feeling, and that feeling is mistrust. No, I cannot prove that any of the myriad investigations or charges are actually, definitely true, but I have enough discomfort to have a large amount of doubt. I could not imagine hiring her as my lawyer. I don't trust her and I find it hard to believe that anyone who is surrounded by such unending scandals, suspicious characters, criminals and resistance to transparency does not have something very serious to hide. Yes I could be wrong.

I don't like the sense that every move seems so tactical, but if that were the only problem I would be less bothered by it. I never gave her move to NY much thought until this year when I realized its number of delegates. No one mentions that she's from Illinois, not NY.

She reminds me of high school bullying. I don't believe that any of the extremely bigoted, unethical outbursts from her campaign *or* what the media latched onto as a result of her actions or campaign were random or "mistakes". I don't believe that at all and whether I am right or wrong, I cannot consider voting for anyone who is so purposely destructive. I might have more tolerance for it if her record or experience were not only genuine but credible. I don't find that they are anything but, at best, on par with Mr. Obama's. Therefore, integrity and personality do play a part.

I am disappointed that Obama has become more adversarial, but he didn't have a choice. I listen and compare carefully, and there is a difference between determined competitiveness and dirty tricks. It is hard for honorable individuals to compete and win against those who are not, because they make their own rules. That's wrong.

Just a few thoughts.

If you own a company that's facing bankruptcy who would you hire to turn things around.
Americans are already UNITED, you live together, work together, worship together and your children go to school together!
As for HOPE – if you care to ask people from third world countries what you have right now is their HOPE.
As for dirty politics please! Dirty politics is in Pakistan and Kenya – what you have here is again what most countries die for.

WAKE UP & THINK ,you are already living the dreams that most others aspire to.

YOUR NEXT PRESIDENT MUST BE SMART THIS TIME FOR GOD'S SAKE OR THE WHOLE WORLD WILL FINALLY LOSE WHAT'S LEFT OF THE RESPECT THEY HAVE FOR YOU.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Now our BEST candidate, John Edwards, has left the race. Shame on CNN and the rest of the media. I will still vote John Edwards on Super Tuesday and I know that many of my fellow John Edwards supporters will still vote for him as well. By the way, all you Obama supporters who are pressuring us to switch our allegiance to him are causing us Edwards supporters to feel like you are vultures circleing above. Because of that most of us are still voting for Edwards or are going to vote for Clinton.

I want to hear about issues. I want clear answers to questions about the economy, healthcare, and education. Hillary Clinton has those answers. She has been constant in her positions, and she talks from experience. She has worked for "us" at all stages of her political life - in Arkansas and the US Senate.

Obama is working hard to court politicans for endorsements, but at what cost. What promises is he making? Caroline K. S. and Teddy K. did not endorse Obama because of his stance on issues and his platform. Caroline endorsed him because of his popularity with her children, and Teddy followed suit.

The mayor of L.A.'s endorsement of Hillary has more weight with me. He made his decision after carefully considering each candidate and their abilities to lead this nation, and he found Obama lacking. I too want to know that my president is ready to step into a challenging domestic and international role - Hillary is ready. She has my vote..

I think she's a dangerous, irresponsible choice, but more than that, I think she's more of the same...Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton...where's the change exactly?

I think she's a dangerous, irresponsible choice, but more than that, I think she's more of the same...Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton...where's the change exactly?

A.N.S.W.E.R. LA* will also be directing their anti-war ire outside of the Kodak between 5pm and 7pm. A press release rallying attendee explains, "There Won't Be A Candidate In That Theater Who Will Really End The War, But That's What The People Want–And We Intend To Do It." The website also argues, "The debate is being sponsored by CNN and the L.A. Times, the same corporate media outlets that continually refuse to cover the anti-war struggle."

Funny you bring that up, since Hillary has actually had LESS experience as an elected official compared to Barack. Her bill for healthcare reform failed miserably, and there are really no other accomplishments or highlights to her brief work as a Senator.

You're right in that Hope alone does nothing. But Obama is very suitable to the job, and unlike Hillary is able to reach across the aisle and get things done.

the same politics of government for those rich enough to pay for it.

She has taken more money from lobbyists than ANY other candidate.

Do the names Johnny Cheng and Norman Shu mean anything to you?

Dirty money is part of the system Hillary Clinton defends. She's a BIG

part of that Washington establishment we all hate. We need change

from all of that...not more of the same. Obama means CHANGE and

HOPE...not her.

Appeals to hispanics
Appeals to white males

Because if any candidate wins both of them on tuesday on wednesday they'll be spinning their opponnent as unviable in a general election.

Clinton desperately needs to pull edwards white male voters as does obama. Likewise this is obama's chance to make inroads with latino's.

The challenge how does one appeal to latino's and white males in the same debate.

This election is now officially about electability sans policy differences. It's do we want to run washington experience vs someone who can motivate the people in pursuit of what is largely the same agenda. If either looks vulnerable and weak in an important population segment their electability quotient will suffer.

Ironically absent the war position of McCain and his comments on judges last night he'ld probably be right at home in this debate as well. Isn't it funny how in a change election three of the front runners are largely carbon copies of each other on the issues.

January 31, 2008 4:32 pm ET
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Keep your eyes open America. Hillary vs. Obama one on on. He will have no where to hide tonight, and no pretty speeches to fall back on. Tonight, Hillary will show she is the only candidate for President of the United States,
If Obama plays nice, he may still get a shot as her Vice-President. If he plays hardball, he will get his butt handed to him in a brown paper bag.

Hillary 08

Check the poll results for Florida The early ballots where cast mostly For Hillary True. It was name recogition . Now that people can compare Hillary to Barack they chose Barack... They shouldn't have started back up with there old lying tricks
Experience at dirty politics

Please, I have plenty of "Inspiration" and "Hope" in my life – my parents were immigrants to this country and I don't need this chap telling me about hope – I have it when I got to bed, before he came along, and I'll have it when I wake up after he is done running for president.

I need a President that can make the hope that I have translate into legislation – Enter Hillary Clinton, the only candidate who has the political prowess to do this.

Hope does not end the Mortgage crisis.
Hope does not end the lack of Healthcare.
Hope does not end the suffering economy.

Hope + Hope = Hope^2 or more hope.

Hope + Legitimate Legislator = CHANGE.

Just because I support Obama (and I DO) does not mean I think Hillary is a no-good unqualified calculating witch.

What's wrong with you people?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

vote obama

Education [affordable College education]

Health Care

about the war in Iraq [should stress about his judgment]

Electability :- Hillary has a lot of negative effect and in some instance many people hate her fair or unfair. She will unite the Republicans and Republicans will vote against her. During the election both [Republicans and Democrats] will have about 49 % from each side, if Democrats want to win they need independent and republican–Obama is the person who can do that.

Hillary need to disclose her record which is kept from public. She need to show Americans that she is going to run open government.

She is not available to Press. We all know what Bush did. He had very few press conference. This should not happen when the next president hold the office in 2009.

These are some of the talking point that Obama need to focus on
Samuel T.

Feather weight, amature political rookie obama continues his crusade to help the neo cons win the white house.

Big ego and little experience Obama should have waited a few years.

WHAT DO YOU GET IF YOU MIX OBAMA AND OUR NATION?

AN OBAMANATION!

VOTE TO WIN BACK OUR DEAR WHITE HOUSE VOTE HILLARY

Why should we allow two families to control the white house for more than a quarter of a century?

It's been Bush-Clinton-Bush for 20 years now!
We don't need this to continue for 24 or 28 years.

The Clintons had their turn. Give us a break.

It's time for some new blood. It's time for Obama!

With the exception of Mike Huckabee no other candidate has shown good debate skills!

Any we don't have a Parliamentary system with Prime Ministers Question Time (Thursday afternoons in the UK) therefore the debates are really not a very relevant criteria nor accurate method to try and measure the candidates’ abilities.

Barack - Hire Mike Huckabee as a debate coach but even if you don't you've had my vote since the DNC Convention in 2004!

Go Barack '08

ABC '08

Barack Obama Does Not Need To Be Dictated To!

The press and local media keep stressing that Barack Obama has to be more specific with his position on issues!

I dare say, that Barack Obama, like Hillary Clinton, are both Lawyers. They know when it is crucial to reveal the evidence or substance for their case, to convince the Judge or Jury.

So stop trying to DICTATE to Barack Obama how he should sell himself in this competition!

Derryck.
NYC.