Gloves Taken Off at South Carolina Debate

In a debate that will be remembered for it's heated discussion and personal jabs, John Edwards showed once again that he is able to personally connect with the crowd and focus on his message.

The gloves came off right off the bat on a question on the economy and trade agreements. Here's a summary from Daily Kos...

Obama uses his time to argue that Hillary and Bill are making untrue statements about his record. Hillary responds by saying that Obama said that he "really liked the ideas of the Republicans" over the past years (paraphrase). Obama clearly is jumping to address the issue and is frustrated that Clinton is not been cut off by the moderator.

Obama begins, Hillary jumps in, back and forth, Obama says that he said Reagan was transformative because he got both sides to get together to push through an agenda -- an agenda he doesn't agree with. While he was working for change in Chicago, he says, Hillary was "a corporate lawyer sitting on the board of Wal Mart."

Ouch.

Fire hose! Get the fire hose! The sparks are flying! Hillary responds to Obama claiming she praised Reagan in an upcoming Brokaw book. Obama says she mentioned Reagan, she says Bill did it. Obama slams back: "I can't tell who I'm running against."

Hillary brings up Rezko, a "slum lord." Applause and boos. Edwards finally gets a chance to speak and reminds everyone that there are "three people in this debate, not two." Calls them out on squabbling. "Not about us personally, it's about what we're trying to do for the country."

Obama even once questioned who he is really running against, Bill or Hillary.

After all of this, Edwards chimed in and showed that this should still be a 3 person race by tackling the issues and stressing his message.



It seemed that Obama was deflecting attacks from both sides. It might be because Obama was standing in the middle, but it seemed a lot of the pointed questions were geared at him and he held his own. He looked tough and defended his positions well.

Hillary Clinton's top moment was her answer about why a Democratic candidate for president must have a universal health care plan saying that she isn't running for President to put band aids on our problems. However, her questioning Obama on being honest on his present votes brought boos from the crowd and seemed petty

As Obama and Clinton seemed to go back and forth, John Edwards used the time to talk about the issues that matter most and that will win him some votes in South Carolina and might make people in other states give him another chance.