Texans and the nation listened and watched together last night as CNN moderated the latest Democratic presidential debate. People gathered in cities and towns and in the country, watching from TeeVees at the ranch to urban watering holes. Today's post is a digest of Texas opinion about the debate and what it could mean to the March 4 primary outcome.
Texas Democrats seemed very glad just to be together. The debate was marked by more than one standing ovation from the audience. There is a certain amount of pride engendered by being a place that matters to the eventual election outcome. Houstonians cheered their candidates at sports bars, according to the Houston Chronicle. To quote:
Darla Kendzor, 31, of Houston, said Clinton's debate abilities helped her communicate her vision more clearly than Obama was able to articulate his."I think this is her forum," Kendzor said. "This is where she does well. She lays out her plans well. There's no fluff. Obama is not as detailed or clear. He repeats what she says about the issues. His ideas on the issues are not as developed."
Not far away at the Monsoon Wok & Lounge on McKinney, several dozen Obama supporters kept their eyes riveted on five TV screens scattered across the room as they munched on eggrolls and buffalo wings.
Seated at the bar, 24-year-old Ronethea Williams clapped loudly when Obama remarked that "Washington has become a place where good ideas go to die."
Williams said she was initially a "Hillary fan" but changed her mind.
Watching the Clinton-Obama presidential debate last night in Austin was for me very enjoyable and just about what I had predicted. It was, for the most part, very civil and had a good bit of substance. It did not plow much new ground, however. Dallas Morning News reporters CHRISTY HOPPE and GROMER JEFFERS JR. wrote by far the best article covering the content of the debate in the state. To quote:
In a critical debate that could help determine the Democratic nominee, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama walked in lock step on the policies needing change but broke ranks on who could deliver it.
The largely civil discussion Thursday night included a few terse exchanges but was mostly memorable for Mrs. Clinton's emotional conclusion, tinged with a notion that she could lose but asserting that either candidate would serve the country well.
These two leading Democrats apparently still have a deep commitment to avoid splitting the party, no matter what. The Austin American Statesman saw the debate as more contentious than I did, however, calling it "prickly" during the second half. The paper reported that,
Nearly 2,000 people attended the invitation-only debate, mostly guests of UT and the Democratic Party. The audience included Democratic Texas lawmakers, 400 UT students and 200 registered Texas voters who won tickets in two separate drawings that thousands entered.
Democratic consultant Kelly Fero rated the debate a toss-up, though he said Clinton may have won some points with her closing remarks.
"In general, she was more energetic and dynamic, while he was more low-key and quiet," he said. "Close — just like their poll numbers in Texas."
Calli Rudebusch, 18, a UT freshman from Conroe majoring in government, said that seeing Obama in person solidified her support of him (she said she already voted for him). But she was thrilled to get Clinton's autograph and be there to witness history from her bleacher seat near the Longhorn band.
"I really feel that 20, 30 years down the line," she said, "I'm going to look back and go, 'Wow, I was there.' "
Former president Bill Clinton said again at a post debate rally that his wife absolutely must do well in the Texas primary in order to win the nomination. To quote from Examiner.com:
Clinton again said he is confident that March 4 primary wins in the key states of Texas and Ohio.
"If she wins Texas and she wins Ohio, she will win Pennsylvania and she will be the nominee," Clinton told the crowd of hundreds.
"It is all up to you."
. . . She has so far focused her Texas visits largely on the U.S.- Mexico border in an effort to capture the support of Hispanic voters. She campaigned in Laredo earlier Thursday and was due in Dallas and Fort Worth on Friday.
Hillary Clinton will be in my part of Texas today. I will surely go to see her if I can. I got a phone call from her campaign with an offer of free tickets if I would leave the house right then and vote early for her. It was an interesting offer, but I did not take it up. It is just under two weeks until I get to cast my votes for the nation's next president. I would be happy with either candidate, but I will vote for Obama.
Update: Reports have just come in that a Dallas policemen has been killed in a motorcycle crash in the line of duty as he worked with the Dallas motorcade. Senator Clinton has just expressed her deepest condolences to the family and to the Dallas police department at their great loss. Senator Clinton came to the podium at what would have been the Fort Worth rally, and announced that it would be inappropriate to hold it under the circumstances. Then she headed back for the Dallas hospital to be with the policeman's next of kin. The Metroplex will be somber today as we realize that life is precious, and law enforcement is ever vulnerable.
View my current slide show about the Bush years, "Millennium," at the bottom of this column.
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(Cross-posted at The Reaction.)
Technorati tags: news news and politics politics 2008 primaries texas presidential campaign
6 comments:
I'm just sorry that the republicans have gotten to the point where there isn't a need for more debates. There is a lot of eye-opening stuff that came out of those that would help people flee, FLEE SCREAMING from the republican candidate in November.
I was wondering how things were going in Texas. It looks like the Democrats had the Republicans on the run yesterday in Texas - or were they hiding their heads in shame.
I missed the beginning of the debate because my daughter and I went to the Grand Opening of a gigantic new Albertson's grocery store near here. What does that say about our exciting lives in the rural hills of California?
Anyway, I watched most of it and the commentaries that followed. I am still firmly Obama as I cannot go Clinton - to use an old set of terms "she's sold out to the establishment".
I thought that both did a decent job with Obama being more sincere. I thought that Hillary's concluding remarks were contrived.
I think that if she is the chosen one the Democrats will further divide. She's pro-war, pro-funding for the war, and pro-corporate rule. Many do not trust her. She's the same game in a different suit of clothes.
I really enjoyed your Millennium slide show!
I'm glad you enjoyed the debate. I myself am 0 for 08 when it comes to watching the debacles.
One promising me pie in the sky (hope pie, btw), when taters on the table are needed, leaves me cold.
The other? Bush/McCain doesn't look that well in a pants suit at all - especially with that fat ass. And the other one is nothing but those two Lite.
Howdy to all -- Thanks for stopping by and leaving such interesting comments. You always do.
lapopessa, I find it ironic that the surviving Republican is embroiled in the "stuff of old." McCain seems a bit out of touch with reality at times, so I understand your FLEE SCREAMING. I love it!
kww, Did you get any good food samples at the new grocery? Those of us Dems in this Red state are really taking heart at the resurgence of interest in our two candidates. Glad you liked the Millennium slide show. Thanks.
Future, you do have a voting dilemma, don't you? How are you going to decide what to do? I hope you have, at least, dismissed choosing a Republican after what we've been through. Thanks for your comment.
So CG, what is your take on how the primary will finally shake down? I know you've got a solid recent history of brilliant female pols and activists--barbara jordan, ann richards, molly ivins, liz carpenter, lady bird johnson--so that would appear to favor HRC. On the other hand, there seems to be a lot of interest at all levels and from both genders in Obama, to judge from the enormous crowds he's drawn there. Plus, I've read that there is a generation gap opening now in the Hispanic community, with the older folks going with Hillary and the younger ones solidly behind Barack.
How will it end, or have you retired your crystal ball for the duration?
I am one of those "creepy cultists" for Obama, not because HRC is unacceptable, but because Obama is a clear, lucid thinker and writer who will bring a new and diverse set of life experiences to the oval office. He has the inspirational ability to bring people along in the direction he will indicate...HRC clearly lacks that. Also, and I think you can't stress this enough, he has the ability to change the image of the United States just because of who he is. It would signal a sea change in US politics and the perception of those politics if he, a bi-racial American, were elected President.
I hope everyone out there who is skeptical about Barack will take a few hours and read his two books, Dreams From My Father and The Audacity of Hope. If you can only read one, read Dreams. You won't regret it, in fact you will be delighted with your new friend...I feel like I know Obama personally, having read them.
buckarooskiddo, thanks for your very good questions. I am not very good at predicting so I will just guess. In the week until the Texas primary, Senator Clinton will further erode her support by going negative against Senator Obama. That will backfire because of the protectiveness the general population feels towards him. He has a good chance to win here. Momentum is beginning to be everything.
I would have voted for Senator Clinton because I am in one of the core cohorts supporting her. I am an old feminist, and it just kills me that I cannot vote for the first female candidate to have a real chance to be elected. But this is not the time. There is too much at stake in the quest to grab our country back. I am an Obama girl, for no coherent reason than it seems best for the country.
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