http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070604/NEWS/706040350She's the front-runner and both the candidates and the journalists designed their questions to either take her down or show they're every bit as good, if not better than she is.
And while Mrs. Clinton at times had on that smarmy look of amused disdain, the look that every smartest kid in the class sometimes suffers from, by and large she held her own. She showed what everyone already knows about her — that she's smart, tough and that you'd have no trouble envisioning her being up to the job, even "pushing the button" if she had to.
Whether toughness in a woman is something in America that means "shrew" or "iron lady," we're all going to find out later this year. One thing is for sure, at times last night, especially during the question-and-answer period with the audience, her demeanor was every bit the assertive, almost strident woman that for years now has made her a polarizing figure.
Mrs. Clinton almost dismissed her opponents, aiming all her remarks at President Bush.
"This is George Bush's war. He is responsible for this war. He mismanaged this war. He escalated this war. And he refuses to end this war," she said.
Barack Obama did more than well, too. He almost looks like an African-American Abe Lincoln. Lanky, baritone-voiced and the soul of wisdom and moderation, someone you feel could lead the country, whether you're from the left or the right wing point of view.
Did Barack say anything particularly substantive? Probably not, but he sure sounded convincing saying it.
Here's Mr. Obama trying to explain if the president deserves any credit for avoiding a repeat of 9/11.
"They have, unfortunately, not strengthened our alliances with other countries," he said.
That's a soundbite? Well, it's definitely not going to make last night's cable newscasts, or any other night's.
The rest of the candidates?
Suffice it to say, none of them — unless you count Joe Biden getting all red while recommending we stop genocide by invading Sudan — had that "Where's the beef?" soundbite.
John Edwards, perhaps the strongest general election candidate, has been hurt badly by the "Breck girl" branding that the Republicans designed to take him out early. He sounded very much like the lawyer he is when he was trying to skewer Hillary for not saying she's sorry enough about her vote to allow the president to invade Iraq.
Former U.N. ambassador and Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, on paper, the most qualified candidate in the race, has a hard time rising above the fact he looks like a Hispanic version of the Pillsbury dough boy trying too hard. Ditto for Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd. That's not fair but it's certainly political reality in a television age.
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