At 30 minutes into the debate, Clinton looked utterly "defeated."

[QuidditchFan]

I am an Obama supporter in this election but have always been a fan of Hillary. I TiVo'd the debate and am 30 minutes into it. While listening to Russert ask a question about the 5 million job question, I was struck by Hillary's countenance. An adjective immediately came to mind: "Defeated." My wife was in a different room, and when she walked into the T.V. room, I rewinded the TiVo and played the same clip I had viewed. I asked her to describe Hillary in one word. Her response, with almost no pause: "Defeated."

It was actually depressing, as the reality that one of these great candidates is going to lose really hit.

[Flabbergasted]

1. She was really pissed that Russert pissed on her and she couldn't put him in his place.

[Seabiscuit]

15. Tim Russert is a total a-hole, never let her finish her sentence and at one point

when they were breaking away from commercial didn't allow her to follow up her answer when they returned. Tim Russert is so busy trying to get "gotcha" moments on tv against the Clintons its disgusting. Obama did well tonight not great. I have to think both of them are utterly exhausted.

[casus belli]

19. I'm an Obama supporter, but...

that a-hole should never have been invited to moderate. He has some very obvious issues, and loves to take pot shots under the guise of "tough questions". It was obvious he was fishing for a "gotcha" moment on her. Her performance wasn't too bad considering.

[JTFrog]

23. Maybe she shouldn't have used the SNL line. Didn't favor his type any.

True it may have rang, but one of her biggest problems has been her negative approach to everything in her campaign.

[casus belli]

25. Or she could have at least waited until more than two questions had been asked. n/t

[vssmith]

21. I hate Russert too--it's all about him

[ginnyinWI]

2. well she came in with guns-a-blazin'

And she got to say her piece, and that was it...Obama never takes the bait, never shoots back. In fact defuses her even more by throwing out a few compliments. She has no way to look tough against that. It's masterful on Obama's part. He just sits there looking presidential, and she looks pooped. She couldn't land any punches and made herself look a bit silly with her lame attempts at jokes (the pillow one). I just don't think she understands Obama or his appeal--it's like she's from another world and just doesn't know why he is beating her at the polls.

[JimGinPA]

3. I Agree

I bet she wishes she hadn't asked for these last two debates.

[tammywammy]

4. "Meet me in Ohio"

I bet she wishes she hadn't said that. :rofl:

[Scurrilous]

14. Yep!

:thumbsup:

[lligrd]

8. Obama Handled It Perfect nt

[FlyingSquirrel]

5. She was TIRED.

She even made a comment at one point about lack of sleep (around tax return time).

[lligrd]

7. I'm Sure They Are Both Tired

It has been one heck of a campaign.

[hendo]

29. If she has trouble sleeping now..

She doesn't have what it takes to take on the GOP attack machine again.

Besides, Obama will do a far better job defusing the GOP attacks, just like he has defused the ones from Hillary.

[lligrd]

6. Who Advised Her To Glare Like That?

More poor campaign advice or were her acting skills just not up to par today?

After the stunts she's pulled this last week, it is hard for me to feel to sorry for her. I know she has worked hard but there are plenty of other good position that she is well qualified for that I am sure she will be considered for.

[Maddy McCall]

9. She can't help it. She's just a woman.

[Alexander]

18. You can't help it. You reflexively yell "sexism" when there isn't any.

Such hyperbole only serves to desensitize people to real instances of sexism.

[Lerkfish]

24. no, she's run a self-defeating campaign, and failed to adjust in time

she's a poor campaigner, that's all. Her gender has nothing to do with that, but your obsession with her gender is beyond obnoxious.

[splat]

10. That's weird, I thought Obama seemed flat

She had a great answer for why she couldn't deliver on the promise of jobs in New York -- something like, "I thought then Al Gore would be president" with "and Bush wouldn't get to take us in the tank" implied.

Timmy had to explain to Obama who Medvedev was (likely to be the next president of Russia). Obama quickly quickly changed the subject to his canned speech about Putin.

[mtnsnake]

11. Are you kidding? She had her game face on

and she was rocking!

It reminded me of the famous Mark Messier glare.

[robbedvoter]

27. MSGOP crew was in damage control mode - saw them BEFORE I watched the rerun

and KNEW she scored from their attitude. Maddow was almost crying. "the end of enthusiasm" she called this debate

[DearAbby]

12. I didnt watch it..I feel badly for Hillary.

but I do believe it is time to gracefully step aside. Save face. Think of the future.

[splat]

13. Every campaigner would like everybody else to drop out! It's a sign of fear

[DearAbby]

16. It's true, I fear the divisiveness that is our party now

I want to unite and kick some serious GOP Butt. We have work to do. I believe its about time for us to get busy. I wanna see em sweat, I want to KICK SOME ASS!

[tandem5]

17. nah I didn't see that nt

[Awsi Dooger]

20. I noticed the difference before the debate started

Instead of a genuine smile, a staple of previous debates, she was straight faced and almost glaring. Others have described it here as a game face. My instant intake was same as QuidditchFan, a realization that all is lost and she didn't have the full energy to mask the devastation. And it's got to be devastation, when you know it's your one and only chance and you honestly believe you're the best candidate but the media swayed it the other way.

An early thought I had when I noticed her facial expression; that it reminded me of Jimmy Carter on the final weekend in 1980. I was in college and my roommates and I noticed Carter seemed less energetic the last couple of days. Only later did we learn that his pollster Pat Caddell had told him the result was inevitable. I wonder if many insiders in the Hillary camp have expressed similar, telling her it's all but over, particularly if she doesn't sweep Texas and Ohio?

[kstewart33]

22. Respectfully, nonsense.

I support Obama also, but I thought she did a fine job. I wish she hadn't brought up the 'always getting the first question' bit and Obama needing a pillow, but otherwise, she held her own. Not enough to win, but still a solid job.

This is the first debate that I've seen from start to finish, and I was proud of both candidates.

[robbedvoter]

26. That's why Rachel Maddow said the debates were "grim" and mcCain was the winner

She is - if you lived under a rock - a very overt Obama supporter. I hadn't seen the debate at that point - but that was my cue that Hillary scored big. i then watched the rerun and got confirmation.

[bigtree]

28. Bullshit

Obama looked sleepy.Hillary was on the attack all the way through. Your post is complete bull.

[underpants]

30. I watched it with the sound off an I agree-it was a mix of rage and almost crying

and I men WHITE HOT RAGE!!!

That was my impression anyway.