February 21st, 2008
08:53 PM ET
15 years ago
Schneider: This is a competition, not a debate
AUSTIN, Texas (CNN) - You would have to be a Philadelphia lawyer to tell the difference between these two candidates.
Neither has really gone after each other, even though the moderators have given them ample opportunity.
Now it's virtually a matter of who says the same thing better. And if this continues, Obama will likely win - he's always been viewed as the more effective communicator.
Clinton needs to start challenging Obama if she wants to gain the upper hand.
- CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
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Obama talks about having good judgment to see into the future. When Hillary voted for the war she voted for specifics to have the UN inspect. He has no place talking about judgment with as many personal mistakes as he has made in his personal life. What about when he took drugs, was it bad judgment
I was hoping that Obama talked about substance on policies...He has secured my vote 100%...Hillary would make a great VP
I am 69 years old and nothing has served me better in life than experience-Hillary will be the better prepared president -Obama vice-resident – he will get his experience as vice-president – that way the Democrats will hold the white house for 16 years. Wake up americans!
Best political team on TV decided to select Campbell to moderate this debate, Was Wolfe off tonight?
Cambell Brown is the wrong moderator, she is inappropriately inervening at the akward times
I agree, she is in a no win situation. She can't come off too aggressive or she gets booed. When she answers first, he just says he agrees and gets in a couple tack on answers. They don't let them go back and forth like last time, too constrained this time. HE is playing it safe just mimicking almost all of her answers. He did waffle on the Cuba question though!
Don't think the so called moderator are playing fair game..
they have never cut off Obama.. why always Clinton??
Clinton on top of this one!
Bill, are you watching the same debate the rest of us are?
Hillary is showing the difference that experience makes and her answers on specifics are GREAT.
The debate monitor fails to signal obama and allows him to rattle on about other subjects.
We need Clinton as our President.....Solutions verses Ideas.....Solutions verses Good Speeches. This is not a popularity test....this is our future and our country.
How can you say that? Obama stutters, hem-haw, stammers, and hesitates like he's trying to remember the details.
Obama not only has the support of newspapers, also medias.
Look CNN, did not allow them to have equal time to speak?
Someone should teach Obama the meaning of a debate, he already has the campaign down pack. Let her speak, he interrupts constantly and and Ms. Brown changes the question. This is really one sided, this is not a debate. With Clinton's economy health care will be affordable. With Clinton's plan on bringing the troops home is the right way to do it. With Clinton's plan on education, we will be able to afford to get a higher education.
Why should she start challenging Obama. Anytime she does so CNN comes out with a headline in the spirit "Clinton gets aggressive" .. she's standing her ground and explaining herself and that is enough. I mean ultimately how do you find against the movement of "meaningless change" or "change for change's sake" that the Obama campaign is pushing. It's not like any of the change-motivated Obama junkies have an idea how to change that into pratical policy. Maybe someday we will live in a USA where people vote with their minds and not based on a feel-good trend.
As undecided voters in Austin, my husband and I were watching the debate to hear the actual ideas of both candidates. Clearly, Hillary has concrete ideas and has a more specfic ways of dealing with the problems. I am impressed with her ability to comunicate.
CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE is all I continue to hear. Listen people, change will automatically take place when Bush leaves the office. We will have a new beginning with whom ever we as a country decide to put into office. We as a country will have to live through four years of their political views and right now they are all making these grand promises but in the end the truth of their intentions will be revealed. Snap out of the trance these grand speeches and roaring crowds have you in and "FOCUS PEOPLE FOCUS".
clinton is making him look so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
clinton comes off as a better debater. obama seems to have trouble formulating his thoughts
Obama never answers the questions, only agrees with what Hillary says. He needs to tell us exactly how he is going to accomplish any thing. He talks without telling us anything, he is a good orator but we need more than that.
I like Barack but I think Hillary knows more and has the will to get done what needs to be done. A Clinton-Obama ticket wouldn't be so bad. He'd probably learn alot on-the-job from the new president. I agree with some of the other posters that Obama has little substance and gloms ideas from everyone that "sound" good coming from his affable persona. Hillary is the best choice all-around. I know she wants to get the universal health care issue finally resolved, among so many of the other issues about which she has made very definite policy statements. Hillary is my choice. Of course the sad thing is that because I'm from Michigan my delegate won't have a vote for her.
I need a shower. I feel like I just came back from Church after Obama's comment about Superdelegates.
Coming from a black woman, the only thing that will change in the White House, is the color of its occupants barack talks too much.
Yes, indeed, Hillary is batle tested and ready to go. The experience does matter.
The Republicans would eat him alive in November. We can not afford that to happen. Barack really thinks that Republicans and Democrats would shake hands after November, and work together? Did that ever happened? And as an outsider himself would accomplish anything?
Let's be realistic. Th eanswer is NO.
Could someone explain what Mr. Obama would be doing in the White House if the people are being responsible for all the things he's suggesting? Will he be on vacation? Hilliary is a much more real person than he is. Wake up people!