I declare Moseley-Braun and John Edwards winners of CNN Debate!

[KoKo]

I'm a Dean/Kucinich, but I gotta say that M-B did it again for me. What a delight she is. Well spoken, gets her Democratic points across in perfect sound bytes and a wonderful smile and way about her that's just what lifts my spirit. She also addresses "bread & butter" and "family" issues in a way that goes straight to my gut.

John Edwards, should have been like this on the other debates. He was relaxed, and funny and down to earth. (I'm not a fan of his...bad experiences in NC), but I've got to say he handled himself the way he got elected for Senator here (before he let us down with things like not meeting with Iraq War Protestors and sending clipped form letters to those of us who supported him in NC).

But, all that aside, Edwards was really wonderful tonight, imho, and was very specific laying out what he would do and what he believed Government should do. If he is sincere on getting rid of the Lobbyists and Hog, and Chicken Farm Mega Business, he has made his mark today!

So, I applaud him and M-B and even Kucinich (who needed to expand beyond "Bring the troops home!") as great Dem Candidates.

My 2 Cents since I was surprised there wasn't any comment here about how well those two did.

[AP]

1. Edwards HAS been like this in other debates. You only notice because

he got to stand in the middle of the stage, and because there were only six other canidates with which he had to compete. He also got a few moments where, by luck, he was able to tie together a few different ideas in a way that was coherent.

[KoKo]

4. AP he is my Senator. I had a big interest in wanting him for President,

before he did what he did once he got into the Senate. However, I think his supporters should be proud as hell over that extraordinary performance on CNN. Good for him! and you! ;-)

[revcarol]

2. I liked some of CMB's answers,

but some were just talking down to us, as if we were kindergartners.Some leading questions to her.
Edwards was awesome. Reminded me of Clinton on the campaign trail.I think Edwards would be a GREAT Attorney General, out for the little guy.

[DemOutWest]

3. I agree

I agree. I posted in another thread. CMB was great. Edwards was relaxed and stole some of the thuder from Dean at the end.
I was also iimpressed with DK.

I am a Kerry supporter. However, cmb, DK and Edwrds all move up in my book while Joe, Dick and JK stayed the same.

Sorry to say, Dean lost with me. I can't see him being a president. Sorry. My .02 of 1$.

[OrAnarch]

5. Major points from refraining to answer her question they posed

and instead laying out the 3 she didn't get to answer on. :)

I don't think she won though, but as always, preformed strongly. I think the winner is between Dean and Edwards, but thats neither here nor there.

The one effect of this debate is as follows...the "anti-deans" (cept clark from absence) didn't really stand out and have a distinguishing showing. Edward may definately cut into the votes of Kerry, Gephart, Lieberman and Clark in the Iowa causcus, wrapping it up for Dean. Any thoughts on this?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. I was impressed with Carol and John

and think they may have picked up supporters from Gephardt and Kerry, who weren't as impressive as far as I saw.

[KoKo]

7. Yes, you make a good point, I think. The "anti-Deans" didn't seem to do

more than attack him while not shoring up their own positions. I don't know how Edwards will do in Iowa, but if he's been to all 92 Counties there, as he stated, and performed as well as he did tonight, he might hurt Gephardt and Lieberman. I believe that Clark withdrew from Iowa.

It would have been nice to see Clark. But, the smaller number did have a kind of interesting flavor, in that this is the first of the debates (I've seen them all) where they really got a chance to "interact." Some was funny and good natured in the beginning of the debate where one got to see their personalities but in the last part when they attacked Dean it did seem somewhat "staged." I think they had to attack Dean as he is the "supposed by polls Front Runner" but it maybe didn't make them look so great?

But I love all our candidates except Lieberman. (He's getting to be a really hard guy to take since he sounds like a Bush supporter when he opens his mouth.)

[Padraig18]

8. I think Edwards has hurt Kerry badly in IA, at minimum.

He made Kerry look BAD today, and I think Kerry's support in IA will now start going the way of his support in NH, ebbing away one voter at a time, day after day after day... *crickets chirping*

[KoKo]

9. I wish I knew what Kerry's problem is. He comes off as "cold" and I'm

sure in "real life" he must not be that way or he wouldn't have won re-election. I try and try to like him...and he just leaves me cold, every time. To qualify: He sounds "cold" to me, but I know he has a good amount of support here, so maybe I just miss it about him. He's a very good guy.....He just doesn't get the message to me..:-(

[OrAnarch]

10. And why not Gephart?

I always kind lump the three together as middle of the road washington dems...maybe thats bad for me to do. Just something subliminal makes me do such. I somehow feel they are all battling for the same votes in Iowa, minus Gephart's "big" labor backing.

[Moderator]

11. Locking to consolidate threads...there is already a thread on

this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=61369&mesg_id=61369

Thanks,
DU Moderator