If Hillary won the debate, then why did she win?

[Motown_Johnny]

Was it claiming that Iranians are her enemies?

Was it the story about "Crashing a meeting with the Chinese".

Was it explaining how she and President Obama "Hunted" the Chinese?

Is winning dependant upon how many times you bob your head?

Is being unable to voice one policy difference between herself and President Obama the thing that won it for her, or maybe pointing out that she is a different gender than he is?



I am willing to accept the possibility that Hillary won, if I am given a good reason for it. I just think this was a coronation for winner. I don't see how she earned it.

[Kalidurga]

1. I am trying to figure that out myself.

I can't think of a single policy statement she made in the debates nor could I tell you where she stands on any issue.

[treestar]

2. I don't know why we talk of winning in these debates

No one is keeping score - I understand there is a way to score formal debates, but it is not done here. Everyone will have their own opinion of who did better and rarely to we admit that the candidate we already support might not have come across as well to non-supporters.

We know the supporters want their candidate to be declared "winner" and that does not change no matter what the performance of the candidate.

On a rare occasion, someone might admit their person did not do too well - I remember President Obama's supporters even saying he did not do well in the first debate against Rmoney.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I have to agree. I think the "winners" are those who had a chance to present their case to

the voters and then capitalized on it. It's about getting better known at this point. (Unfortunately, you can certainly lose at these debates, going by Chaffee and Webb. I don't know that their appearances did them much of a favor. We'll see if they improve next time around.)

[quickesst]

7. Yep. There's probably....

....at least one Chaffee supporter out there yelling, "I don't care what anyone says! Lincoln clearly won the debate!" Opinion, and perception.

[Dem2]

14. Another media narrative last night was that they both won.

Works for me. Having two strong candidates working off of each other isn't a bad thing. They certainly agree on most of the points most Democrats care about.

[DCBob]

4. She came off presidential.

No one else did.

[Bread and Circus]

12. what does "Presidential" even mean?

[frylock]

18. Explain how she came off as Presidential, and what that even means..

I don't expect an answer, because I haven't received one yet.

[DCBob]

21. Strong confident poised alert prepared intelligent..

Must I go on?

[Armstead]

22. Jim Webb was all of those things

Batshit crazy, but he was strong, confident, etc.

[DCBob]

25. and basically a Republican.

[Armstead]

27. That's redundent. I said he was batshit crazy.

[DCBob]

33. Indeed.

[frylock]

24. In stark contrast to Sanders, who was..

weak, insecure, lacking self-confidence, sleeping, ill-prepared, and stupid?

[DCBob]

26. Sanders didn't come off nearly as presidential as Hillary.

He has an odd style more like a professor than a President.

[frylock]

30. Yeah, see the thing is, the PEOPLE don't want someone who has been rehearsing for the part.

The only people hung up on looking Presidential are DC bubbleheads and Hillary supporters. Joe Blow on the street doesn't give a fuck about poise. Substance over style, son.

[DCBob]

31. I am not you're son nor a bubble head.

Get lost.

[frylock]

37. But you're a Hillary supporter, no?

And you seem to be more hung up on how Presidential Hillary may have LOOKED, rather than any real policy positions.

[arcane1]

35. I, for one, am tired of auditioning someone to play president on TV.

I swear it seems as though the most insignificant things are magnified to far more importance than they would ever deserve.

[AgingAmerican]

23. That is a Republican measure

Democrats vote based on policy

[redstateblues]

40. It's intangible but very real

She has it- I like Bernie but he doesn't have it

[DCBob]

42. Yes, it is intangible but it affects alot of voters.

It will be even more important in the general where many of the voters are less informed and tend to vote based on appearance, looks and style.

[Agschmid]

5. Because she didn't lose.

She didn't make errors, and she appeared like she could do the job. As did all three "major" candidates.

It was a big win for Democrats.

[Renew Deal]

6. It's not about positions taken. It rarely is.

She was the most competent, professional, prepared, etc and helped her cause the most (keeping Biden away). Webb and Chafee clearly lost. O'Malley didn't get anywhere so he more or less lost. Sanders was a mixed bag and didn't win. But who knows. If the polls come out and he improves 5 points then he won.

[JRLeft]

8. This is why we end up with more of the same. More corporatism in the Washington DC.

[frylock]

19. In what way did she show herself to be more competent or professional?

Specifics, please.

[sibelian]

9. Because bernie supporters are lame weirdos who vote.

So they are embarassing and so Hillary is cool and so she won.

[Adrahil]

10. I hate the whole "who won" thing. It's BS.

I think Hillary did great. I thought she expressed her opinions and positions forcefully and in a well articulated manner.

I think Bernie did great. He was genuine and passionate.

I think supporters of both candidates should be proud, and I think Democrats, in general, should be proud.

Leave the horse race BS to the paid talking heads.

[Bread and Circus]

11. head bobbing is a very interesting body language technique

I have read that head bobbing / nodding literally generates oxytocin in the brain of the observer. Its powerful mojo.

This is mot a commentary on Clinton's performance but on the power of the technique itself.

[oasis]

13. Hillary skillfully fended off all attacks, including those of Anderson Cooper.

None of the others came close to matching her overall knowledge. With the perfect combination of poise and brilliance, Hillary showed herself to be the complete presidential package.

[azmom]

15. I think it was when she spelled out her relationship to Wall Street

I represented Wall Street, as a senator from New York, and I went to Wall Street in December of 2007 -- before the big crash that we had -- and I basically said, "cut it out! Quit foreclosing on homes! Quit engaging in these kinds of speculative behaviors."

[frylock]

20. And did they follow her advice?

[redstateblues]

41. C'mon-It's like "They didn't build that"

You can twist that in the never ending quest to prove Hillary is evil. As soon has I heard it I knew some Bernistas would be making it something that it's not. Nice try

[Yupster]

16. She won for two reasons

1. This was a chance for one of the minor candidates to break out and and possibly present a challenge. Is there a John Edwards in the field that can make it a three person race? The answer was no.

2. Was there a sound bite that came out of the debate that could be used in a campaign ad against her during the general election. Again the answer was no. Sanders blundered when he answered the question clearly "Do Black lives matter or do all lives matter." That question and answer would hurt him badly in a general election campaign. Hillary smartly avoided that landmine yes or no.

For those two reasons, Hillary was the clear winner.

[Maedhros]

38. You have incredibly low expectations. [n/t]

[JRLeft]

17. Hillary reassured her Wall Street backers she has their back. No Glass Steagall.

[TM99]

28. Well it is obvious, isn't it?

Sanders didn't win because science and all that.

Pundits are not scientific either but they are right.

Well, I can think for myself but I just can't seem to express my thoughts as to why she won.

Maybe it is some sort of vague mystical or magical thing like 'she looked presidential' but I can't really argue that as I am always attacking Sanders supporters for chasing unicorns and having magical thinking.

Well, it has got to be because everyone else sucked. It is never about Clinton anyhow, so yeah, that's it.

They sucked. She looked presidential. Pundits are great! And science not magic is the answer.

[upaloopa]

29. What does winning the debate mean?

If it was a school debate there would be points given and the winner has the most points.
I think it was a win for Hillary because she got to define herself instead of the MSM and the repubs defining her.
I don't think she won as if it were a school contest.
Bernie also defined himself and in that case I think he won too.
The next polls will tell if anyone picked up or lost support. Some judge the debate that way. I heard that Hillary will lose men and gain women supporters because she talked of being the first woman President. So if it is a push and Bernie gains support some will say he won.

[still_one]

34. What!!! A logical response. I didn't know that was allowed

[mythology]

36. Winning to me means your next to last sentence

At least in the realm of running for president.

There can be some moral victories in advancing one's cause, but if we presume that both Sanders and Clinton actually want to be president, then presenting the most convincing case to the voters will be shown via scientific polling in the coming days.

[Faux pas]

32. Oh Bravo!

[Thinkingabout]

39. If we listen to what the candidates say such as her statement on gun violence

One might determine this issue has gotten far out of hand. This is just one of Hillary's issues.